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protecting the city from arson and controlling the exodus of the well-to-do Chinese; but after the panic among the Chinese attending the first demonstration of the enemy had subsided, assistance could be afforded in the way of patrols and obtaining information, and especially in watching the south shore of the island.

XXI.-Telegraphic Cables.

There are two telegraph lines to Europe, one viâ Saigon and Singa- pore, and the other via Shanghai, Vladivostok, and Russia.

Telegraphic communication would therefore be entirely cut off in the event of a war against France and Russia.

The line to the north and south of Saigon would be cut, and the two ends joined by cable. There are 20 miles of spare cable available at Hong Kong. This, however, would require that Saigon should be closely

blockaded.

The shore ends of the cable, which are landed at Telegraph Bay and at Deep-Water Bay, will be watched by small parties to guard them against a boat attack, and earthworks will be constructed to command the landing- places. Any damage, however, could be easily and quickly made good. A more serious danger is the cutting of the line at sea, as it passes for a considerable distance among the surrounding islands and in comparatively shallow water, but there is sufficient cable to repair it when the ends are picked up, but this might require considerable time.

Coal.

The coal stores for the Navy are in the Naval Yard at Kowloon, and immediately beneath Kowloon West Battery.

There are also large stores of coal in private yards, but as the whole of the coal supply is within the harbour, no special precautions are neces- sary for its defence.

(Signed)

J. BEVAN EDWARDS, Major-General,

Commanding in China.

EDWD. J. CHURCH, Commodore.

A. GORDON, Acting Captain,

Superintendent of Police.

WM. P. BLANDY, Major, R.A.

(For C.R.A., on leave).

A. T. STORER, Colonel, C.R.E.

M. STUDHOLM BROWNRIGG, Major,

(Signed)

Hong Kong, May 30, 1889.

Secretary.

Sir,

Covering Letter of General Officer Commanding.

Head-quarters, Hong Kong, May 30, 1889. IN consequence of my having only recently assumed the command, I have not been able to complete until now the accompanying Report of the Local Defence Committee.

I think I should fail in my duty if I did not take this opportunity of drawing your Excellency's attention to the weakness of the garrison, and incompleteness of the defences of this very important station. These, even when complete, are quite inadequate to repel a serious attack upon Hong Kong with its present small garrison, i.e., an attack by an enemy's squadron of moderate strength, accompanied by a force of 3,000 or 4,000 men, a force which could easily be transported in two or three of the large foreign steamers which are constantly in these seas.

2. All that can be done to utilize to the best advantage the troops which are at my disposal has been done. The divisions and sections recommended in this Report have already been formed, the different sections have been mobilized, and every man has been told off to the place

D

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