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mending removal to Causeway Bay and adjacent hills. Important for development of the town if carried out.

Have laid it before the Defence Committee. Appendix No. 4

HONG KONG.

No. 97.

Sir,

Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.

13, Delahay Street, October 22, 1881.

I AM directed by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th October,* referring to the position with regard to defence of the naval and military buildings at Victoria, Hong Kong. I am to state, in reply, that the subject having been referred by the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the local Defence Committee, it would appear unnecessary, at present, pending the receipt of their Report, to direct attention to any other points connected therewith.

No. 98.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HERBERT JEKYLL.

Sir,

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Downing Street, November 14, 1881. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 7th October,* I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Acting Governor of Hong Kong, forwarding a copy of a letter from Colonel Crossman on the defence of the Colony, in which he suggests the removal of the naval and military establishments in Hong Kong to a more eastward position.

2. Lord Kimberley thinks it would be desirable that Colonel Crossman's recommendations should be considered also in its bearing upon the safety of the Governor and of the civil European population in the event of an outbreak occurring, such as Colonel Crossman refers to as possible.

3. The plan of Victoria which accompanied Colonel Crossman's letter has been sent in original to the War Office.

4. I am to add that the Report of the local Committee appointed to consider the question of the defence of Hong Kong has not yet been received.

Inclosure 1 in No. 98.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

JOHN BRAMSTON.

(Secret and Confidential.) My Lord,

Administrator Tonnochy to the Earl of Kimberley.

Government House, Hong Kong, October 3, 1881. I HAVE the honour to forward a letter from Colonel Crossman, R.E., C.M.G., on a subject about which I telegraphed to your Lordship.

2. The scheme which he recommends is a bold one, and until the whole cost of removal is thoroughly worked out, it will be impossible to say the exact gain it will be to the country.

3. Your Lordship's attention must have been constantly drawn to the great hindrance which the present position of the military and naval buildings offered to the development of the town of Victoria.

4. The Praya could not be continued in front of these sites, and the harbour in the immediate neighbourhood has very much silted up and a large amount of land could be reclaimed from the Government wharf to the commencement of Praya East.

5. The advantages which will accrue to the Colony if this plan can be carried out are infinite, the sites of the present magazines which prevent the erection of building on the Kennedy Road will revert to the Colony as well as the military water reservoirs just above the Government Gardens. This reservoir can be greatly enlarged, and will materially assist in the supply of water to the town in case of a blockade, as Colonel Crossman informs me that the projected reservoir in the Tytam Valley is in a most indefensible position without the presence of a much larger body of troops than we are ever likely to have in this garrison. It is open to attack and destruction by an enemy landing at night on the south side of the island.

6. Under these circumstances, perhaps your Lordship will hesitate before proceeding further with the Tytam scheme on any large scale. I understand that Colonel Crossman has already written to the Inspector-General of Fortifications alluding to this weak point.

7. I have laid a copy of Colonel Crossman's official letter before the Defence Committee, and from what I can ascertain they are prepared to recommend that the scheme be entertained.

8. I may point out to your Lordship that although the scheme offers great advantages to the

[1103]

* No. 96.

4 L

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