CAB11-57-9 — Page 5

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Enclosure.

CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF DESPATCH OF GOVERNOR.

(1.) From the G.O.C. to Governor.

Sir,

I HAVE the honour to invite your Excellency's attention to the remark of the Colonial Defence Committee pointing out "the desirability of working out a scheme for providing a place of refuge for the accommodation of women and children in the event of war with China or of a Chinese insurrection in the Colony," and would esteem it a favour if your Excellency would give this matter your consideration and furnish me with your suggestions.

I have, &c., (Signed) W. J. GASCOIGNE.

Sir,

(2.) From Governor to G.O.C.

March 1, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter (Secret) No. L.D.C., 9/01, on the subject of a possible place of refuge for women and children in the event of war with China or of a Chinese insurrection in Hong Kong.

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Granting that in either event the garrison could not effectually control the Chinese population, which I think extremely improbable, I know of no place of refuge that would be secure except Mount Austin Barracks, on the Peak, which was originally built and used as a hotel. Assuming a hostile and uncontrolled Chinese population, there is not, so far as I can see, any defensible position on the lower levels.

I have, &c., (Signed)

H. A. BLAKE.

Sir,

(3.) G.O.C. to Governor.

March 4, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's "Secret" letter of 1st inst., giving effect to the suggestion that Mount Austin Barracks would be a suitable place of refuge for women and children in the event of war with China or a Chinese insurrection in the Colony.

While concurring with your Excellency as to the improbability of the garrison being unable to control the Chinese population, it is only to meet the wishes of the Colonial Defence Committee that I have taken the matter up.

I agree that Mount Austin Barracks would be a suitable place in so far as the accommodation they provide is concerned, but they present some objections from a military point of view. Arguing that a Chinese insurrection would be more likely than a war with China, it is probable that it would be an event following on our being occupied in combatting the assaults of an unfriendly European Power. In either case Mount Austin Barracks would be unsuitable, as they are first and foremost exposed to shell fire, and secondly, the task of providing a regular food supply to the inhabitants, at a time when we would be fully occupied with other matters, would be a formidable one, to say nothing of the line of communications to them which would have to be kept open and guarded.

It has occurred to me that in the interests of the women and children themselves, that the best provision that could be made for them would be to place them on one or more of the better class of passenger steamers, which it is reasonable to assume would be present in the harbour whenever the crisis might occur. It seems to me that this would be an admirable arrangement, for the steamers would be sure to be well found in the way of a food supply which could easily be supplemented from the shore, and would be also able to condense their own drinking water, and on them the women and children could live in comfort, as all the necessaries of life would be present. The only harm that would be likely to befall them would perhaps be from attacks by Chinese in junks and boats, and such attacks the crew, to whom arms would be issued, aided and supported by a guard of regulars, ought to easily repel.

I shall esteem it a favour if your Excellency will give this matter your further consideration, and in the event of my suggestion meeting with your approval, you will be so good as to confirm it.

I have, &c., (Signed) W. J. GASCOIGNE.

Sir,

(4.) From Governor to G.O.C.

March 23, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's Secret letter of the 4th inst., with reference to my suggestion that Mount Austin would be a suitable place of refuge for women and children in the event of war with China or of a Chinese insurrection in the Colony.

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