CAB7-4 — Page 352

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Appendix No. 4.

HONG KONG.

Infantry.

2,000 infantry in war garrison,

Indian troops.

Present accommodation, 1,000

men.

Further accommodation required for 1,622 men.

Cost of barracks, 89,2401.

324

A force of 2,000 infantry would be required for a war garrison, 900 of whom would form a reserve in Victoria, and the remainder distributed as follows:---

For defence of

Kowloon Peninsula Stonecutter's Island Belcher's Point

Quarry Point

Victoria Gap

Wan-tsai Gap Stanley Gap

Total

300

200

200

100

300

1,100

If another European regiment cannot be spared, it will be necessary to make arrangements with the Indian Government to insure that native troops be held in readiness to proceed here whenever required. See Lieutenant-General Donavon's observations in his Memorandum of the 3rd March, 1880.

BARRACKS.*

In the War Office Memorandumt it is stated that the existing barrack accommodation is for 1,289 men, whereas the number of men for whom actual barracks are in existence is only 1,000, the remaining 289 being in civil buildings hired at a very exorbitant rate (about to be raised to 2,2501. a-year), and where the accommodation is most indifferent.

.

The number of men for whom barracks would be required is 2,622, so that 1,622 men will have to be provided for.

Barracks for defensive purposes are required at Kowloon for 443 men (300 infantry and 143 artillery).

There is already at Kowloon a barrack for forty-five, so that all that is wanted for defensive purposes is at-

Kowloon

Stonecutter's Island-

Infantry

Royal Artillery..

Royal Engineers

Quarry Point-

Infantry

Royal Artillery..

Belcher's Point-

Infantry

Royal Artillery

+

::

:::

:

There will be accommodation in the sanitarium for

Total

Accommodation will be provided in-

Stonecutter's West for Kowloon Dock for

Quarry Point for

..

Total

::

::

:

:

::

:

Men. Men.

400

200

85

15

300

100

50

150

200

63

263

150

1,263

Royal Artillery.

51

68

50

169

leaving still 190 to be provided for; but if it is not considered advisable to build permanent barracks at Victoria and Stanley Gaps, these men might be placed in a hut encampment, or in mat-sheds, at Kowloon.

The cost of these barracks, exclusive of the sanitarium, will, at an average of 801 a-head, amount to-

Kowloon (400 men)

Stonecutter's Island (300 men) Quarry Point (150 men) Belcher's Point (263 men)..

**

:::

::::

£

32,000

24,000

12,000 21,240

89,240

90,000

Hospital, 25,0002.

Say

It must be remembered, however, that no provision has yet been made for a hospital on shore. The "Meeance" cannot last much longer, and the general impression is that when any change is made a hospital should be built on shore.

The hospital should provide 200 beds, about 7 per cent. of the garrison, and would not cost less than 25,0007.

I believe that if the Causeway Bay concentration scheme is carried out it will be found that the Colony would be able to defray the greater portion of the cost of barracks and hospital; but on this question, and as regards the land at Stanley to which the Committee refer, as they do not bear directly on the actual defences of Hong Kong, I will make them subjects for separate communications.

* See Table No. 3.

+ No. 102.

This was the sum named to me by the Commanding Royal Engineer on my making inquiry as to cost of building in Hong Kong.

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