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(Secret.) Sir,

APPENDIX 1.

Covering Despatch of Governor.

Government House, Hong Kong, November 16, 1906. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the Defence Scheme for Hong Kong revised to November 1906, in accordance with the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee No. 396 R, dated the 11th June, 1906.

2. The Scheme is covered by a letter from the Officer Commanding the Troops, South China, and as soon as I have recovered from my recent accident I will address my usual Governor's despatch to your Lordship.

I have, &c.

(Signed) M. NATHAN, Governor.

Enclosure.

Sir,

Letter of Officer Commanding Troops in South China.

Hong Kong, November 16, 1906. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the Defence Scheme for Hong Kong revised to November 1906, in accordance with the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee No. 396 R, dated the 11th June, 1906.

2. The map facing the title page was corrected at home, and a searchlight No. 17 was inserted. The light does not exist, and should be deleted.

3. 1 wish again to draw your Excellency's attention to the continued weakness of the garrison. Although the Colonial Defence Committee have recommended an increase to its strength in their Memorandum No. 343 M of the 16th May, 1905, which was approved by the Imperial Defence Committee and confirmed by War Office letter No. 083/4170, dated the 17th January, 1906, yet the increase has been indefinitely postponed by cypher cablegram No. 34, dated the 4th August, 1906.

4. You will notice that paragraph 22, Chapter I, has been altered to represent more accurately the weather conditions.

5. The Commodore brought to the notice of the Committee the fact that he has certain confidential Admiralty instructions concerning the defence of the harbour. These have never previously been considered by the Committee, and it is now recommended that they should be made known to and considered by the Local Defence Committee, as they may possibly clash with the general scheme of defence.

6. With reference to the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee on the proposed flank attack against a supposed Chinese invasion, it will be readily understood that, assuming we have command of the sea, there is nothing hazardous in the undertaking, as, acting on interior lines, we have an enormous advantage over the enemy in the matter of time and means of transport, and it should always be remembered that a vigorous offensive against an enemy like the Chinese is more likely to be successful.

The river boats would be easily obtainable, as trade with the neighbouring Chinese ports would be temporarily suspended.

7. It is considered necessary that provision should be made for a Provost Marshal. This has been added to Chapter III.

8. Owing to the importance of having the telephone system connected up as early as possible, it is considered necessary to complete all communications during the precautionary stage, and arrangements have been made to do this. It has been found impossible to rely on the assistance of civil telephone operators immediately on mobilization, and as the life of the defence depends on efficient telephone communications from the very first, I have been reluctantly compelled to make further calls on the British infantry for this purpose. It is hoped, however, that after a few days most of the operators may be relieved and their places taken by civilians, when the latter have acquired sufficient knowledge.

9. I wish to draw attention to the unsatisfactory position of the wireless telegraphy station at Cape D'Aguilar from a defensive point of view. It is quite outside our line of defence, is liable to be easily raided, and also shelled from the sea. I would suggest that experiments be made with a view of establishing a station at a place more capable of defence and less liable to destruction by shell fire.

10. I desire to point out the importance of supplying iron pickets for commencing the entanglements, on which so much depends, owing to the smallness of the garrison.

It is impossible to obtain supply of the number required (31,000) in hard wood in time if they are only ordered on mobilization, and, in this climate, wooden pickets, if stored, would rapidly deteriorate.

The War Office have postponed the issue owing to want of funds.

11. More detailed information has been inserted at the end of Chapter V with reference to the action of the Mounted Troop, and the necessary transport arrangements made in Table F (ii).

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