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As regards the precautions to be taken against a landing on the back of the island, the western promontory, on which Mount Davis stands, may be left out of consideration, as no landing is practicable on it. The first point to be looked to on the west is Sandy Bay, where there is a small good landing-place, but the access from the beach to the road is difficult and steep, the latter being 400 yards from the water's edge, and at least 400 feet above it.

A very small number of men entrenched in a prepared position, marked (B) on the map, below the road, would be able to prevent any landing.

This detachment would be furnished from the companies at Belcher's Point, a mat-shed being erected for them in time of war.

The Committee have chosen a position above the road, and at some height above it, a few men might, perhaps, be placed there with advantage, to obtain a better command of the road, who might retreat along the aqueduct, the top of which forms a narrow way of from 3 to 4 feet in width, but it appears to me that the main position for protecting the landing-place, and for firing on the road, should be on the lower ground on a level with the road, and their retreat could be covered by fire from many places, which might be previously prepared, between the entrenchment and Belcher's Point Barracks.

With the exception of some sandy patches, which need not be considered, Aberdeen is the next landing-place; it forms, indeed, a good harbour, important on account of its dock, which is at present the only one in the Colony which can take in ships of the "Iron Duke" class.

Appendix No. 4.

HONG KONG.

Position for defence of Sandy

Bay.

Aberdeen.

Dock at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, in itself, not difficult

It would not be difficult to defend Aberdeen by batteries and submarine mines, but in that case a permanent garrison would have to be retained in time to defend. of war in one of the most unhealthy spots in the island.

Two new docks, one near the present Kowloon Docks, and the other in Quarry Bay, each equal to, if not larger in size than the Aberdeen Dock, are in contemplation, and will soon be constructed. These will be within the line of defences of Hong Kong Harbour.

The Committee, therefore, would appear to have done wisely in not including the defence of Aberdeen in their general scheme.

The other landing places are :----

Deepwater Bay,

Chong-whai Bay, Stanley Bay,

Tytam Bay, Sywan Bay ;

but it would be impossible to provide defence for each of these landing- places, without too greatly distributing the small force available. The best mode of defence is to occupy the gaps in the main ridge of the island, through which the only roads from these landing-places pass.

Two docks in contemplation.

Aberdeen not included in general scheme of defence.

Other landing-places.

Impossible to provide defences for each landing-place.

Gaps on ridge to be occupied.

Ground off roads difficult for

Off the roads the ground may be considered inaccessible for troops; even should a few active men attempt to advance in the open country, the valleys all troops. run in such a direction that the positions taken up to command the roads will also see the sides of the hills, which are bare of trees.

At the Victoria Gap three roads meet, viz., from Aberdeen, Pokfoolum, aud the Mount Gough Road, from the Wan-tsai Gap.

From various points near this gap, and to the south of it, and also to the east, excellent positions could be found where a small force could prevent the approach of the enemy, and, as recommended in the Memorandum of the Inspector-General of Fortifications,* it would be desirable to establish a barrack from which the troops would be available to occupy any of the positions, pre- viously intrenched (though little intrenching would be necessary), commanding the roads along which the enemy might actually be advancing.

The barracks should be for 100 men.

The Committee have recommended mat sheds for the accommodation of the men required for the defence of the gaps. These mat-sheds are easily destroyed by fire, and might be blown down in the first gale, and it is for consideration whether it might not be advisable to build small permanent barracks which might be occupied by detachments of officers and men during the enervating hot season, when every civilian who can afford it hurries up to sleep at the "Peak and finds it most conducive to health.

Victoria Gap.

Good positions for defence in several places.

Barracks at Victoria Gap for 100 men.

Objections to mat-sheds.

Advisable to build barracks I

The cost of a barrack for 100 men and 3 officers would be 8,0001, and, though not absolutely necessary for defensive purposes, still, as a sanitary measure, it would be most beneficial, and so indirectly tend towards the efficiency Victoria and Stanley Gaps. of the troops if it were built.

At the Wan-tsai Gap, the next to the eastward, and through which the main mountain-road from Aberdeen passes, there are two excellent positions for defen- sive posts from which the road can be well seen; the one on the west would be occupied by a detachment from the garrison of the Victoria Gap, the other, on the site of the proposed sanitarium,† (of which I may mention the foundations have not yet been laid) would be occupied by a party told off specially for the purpose.

* No. 102.

+ Since this was written a telegram has been received by Commanding Royal Engineer ordering him to proceed with the building of the sanitarium.

Wan-tsai Gap.

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