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Council a vote to make provision for procuring two 9-ton guns, with 100 rounds of ammunition for each, and the proper carriages, platforms, &c., for the defence of the harbour.

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No. 257.

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Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received July 27.)

(Confidential.) Sir,

Government House, Hong Kong, June 13, 1878. THE question I took the liberty of submitting for your consideration in my despatch of the 24th of May*the formation of a Chinese corps in this Colony-seems to have already, to some extent, engaged the attention of General Donovan. Soon after his arrival, in talking about the inadequate force at his disposal for the complete defence of Hong Kong, he said a trustworthy local corps would be of great practical value in working the guns.

2. I find that Colonel Bassano, who has had four years' experience of the Chinese in this Colony, entertains a high opinion of their soldier-like qualities. He thinks the Chinese we could recruit in Hong Kong would form native regiments, more temperate, docile, and amenable to stricter discipline than any other native troops in Her Majesty's service.

3. Those regiments could doubtless be recruited on the old system of long service, with a prospect of moderate pensions. Apart from the main and more pressing reason for utilizing in this way the Chinese subjects of Her Majesty, the good effect-though it would be slow, and could not be seen for many years-of such pensioners returning again to the general mass of the Chinese population, is not unworthy of consideration in looking to the legitimate action of this Colony in helping to establish British influence in China.

I have, &c. (Signed)

J. POPE HENNESSY.

No. 258.

Colonial Defence Committee to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, July 29, 1878.

I AM desired by the Committee on Colonial Defence to acknowledge the receipt of your letter marked Secret and Confidential, of the 17th instant,† covering a despatch from his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong, relative to the possibility of utilizing Hong Kong as a recruiting ground for raising Chinese for the Queen's service.

I am to state, for the information of Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that they are of opinion that the proposition made by his Excellency appears to them well worthy of consideration, for the reasons stated in the second paragraph on page 15 of their Report on the temporary defences of the Cape of Good Hope, &c.

The Committee, however, are of opinion that, in the first instance, it would be advisable if the Secretary of State for War and His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief concurred in requesting his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong to call upon the General Officer Commanding, in conjunction with some civil officer of the Government well acquainted with the Colony and the habits of the Chinese, to report in detail on the manner in which they would propose to carry into effect the suggestion of the Committee in their Report above referred to, as to the increase of the Gun Lascars, and as to raising a battalion to supplement the European garrison usually maintained at Hong Kong during peace.

It would be advisable that this Report should enter fully into the question whether officers could be found locally for this force, as well as the probable cost of raising and maintaining it.

The Committee would suggest for consideration whether, by a moderate payment, this force might not be raised and trained somewhat as a militia, or reserve, only to be called into permanent service when occasion may require.

If found successful, and not too costly, the more extended proposal of his Excellency

* No. 235.

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+ No. 240.

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