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which might lead to considerable expenditure, before the general question has been decided

1. As to places which absolutely require defence, and

2. The measures to be taken for defending them, including-

Naval means, such as stationary gunboats, &c.;

Works and armaments;

Garrisons.

Under these circumstances, the Committee would desire further instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, before giving their further Report promised in their letter of the 26th August.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

No. 3.

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, January 8, 1879.

(Confidential.) Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th September last,* relative to the works of defence in progress at Hong Kong, and the provision of a suitable garrison for the defence of that station.

With regard to works, I am to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the construction of the temporary batteries designed in the Colony previous to the receipt of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee having been completed, the General Officer Commanding suspended the further prosecution of the works pending instructions from the Secretary of State. Some of these temporary works coincided in position with those recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, while others did not.. Under these circumstances, a correspondence has taken place with reference to the precise position and nature of the permanent works to be erected, with the construction of which, however, it will not be possible to proceed during the present financial year.

With regard to the garrison to be provided for its defence, considering that Hong Kong is the most important station for the maintenance of British power and commerce in the Chinese seas; that upon its security depends the efficiency of Her Majesty's fleet in those waters; that it is very distant, and consequently exposed to attack, while its present garrison is altogether inadequate for defence even against attack by a very limited force; and that, in the event of an European war, there can be no doubt that European troops, and possibly Indian troops, could not well be spared to reinforce the garrison; Colonel Stanley is of opinion that steps should be taken to ascertain whether it would be possible and desirable to raise and maintain a trustworthy local force of limited strength to supple- ment the regular garrison.

The subject has been before the Colonial Defence Committee, who suggested a trial of the experiment in their Report on Hong Kong. The correspondence which ensued between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Governor of Hong Kong encourages the hope of a successful result if tried under the limitations which local experience and prudence would dictate.

The opinion of Sir Thomas Wade, expressed in his letter of the 17th October, 1878, to the Marquis of Salisbury, while generally adverse to the proposal on the scale con- templated by Mr. Pope Hennessy, is not opposed to the raising of auxiliary forces within narrow limits in the Colony, subject to restrictions as to their employment. His chief objection to the enrolment of Chinese, viz., that they could not be relied upon in case of a --misunderstanding with the Chinese Government, would not hold good in the event of war Wwith Russia or any other Power.

It appears probable that auxiliaries may be raised in the Colony to assist the regular forces in its defence, and, in fact, the system has been partially adopted already in the formation of a small body of gun Lascars.

Colonel Stanley would, therefore, be glad if Sir Michael Hicks Beach would cause inquiry to be made on the spot as to the best means for carrying the proposal into effect, and for this purpose would suggest the appointment of a Confidential Committee, as recommended in the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee of the 29th July,

If Sir Michael Hicks Beach concurs in this view, Colonel Stanley would suggest that a copy of the correspondence, including Sir Thomas Wade's letter, should be laid before the Committee, and that they should be requested to report on-

+ No. 322 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E.

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