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Memorandum No. 46, prepared by the Colonel Defence Committee, containing detailed instructions for drawing up Schemes of Defence.

Although the revised Scheme had been framed to a great extent on the lines indicated in that Memorandum, the collection and arrangement of the numerous details required by the latter have entailed considerable delay.

A further cause of delay occurred in connection with the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee.

It was thought desirable to obtain the concurrence of that Committee in this Defence Scheme, more especially in that part of it which relates to the regulation of harbour traffic in time of war, which they were especially directed to examine and report upon, but owing to the absence from Hong Kong of one of the naval members of that Committee for many months, it was impossible to assemble it until recently.

Other unavoidable causes have, I regret to say, contributed to delay the completion of this Scheme until now.

6. I beg to suggest that this revised Scheme, if approved, should be printed, and, as much inconvenience and delay have been experienced by the very limited number of copies of the previous Scheme which were furnished for use here (I think only two copies were received in Hong Kong), I trust that I may be supplied with at least twenty copies, it being necessary that one copy should be placed in the hands of each of the Senior Officers who are charged with responsibility in carrying out the Scheme, and two at least being required for use by the Naval authorities, while sectional commanders cach require a copy of that portion which immediately affects them.

It would be a convenience if six of the copies were interleaved with blank pages.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

G. DIGBY BARKER, Major-General.

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