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difficult of access, its view is, on one side, over the road from Kowloon City to Kowloon Dock, and Appendix No. 4. on the other it commands at close range the interior of the battery.
In the event of an attack from Kowloon city, it would be necessary to accupy this hill, but the Committee consider that the chances of an advance from this side are not very great, first, because a landing in Mirz Bay (5 miles north of Kowloon), would be a hazardous enterprize, and the road over the hills (in many places a mere flight of rough steps) is scarcely practicable for troops.
Secondly, because a landing in Kowloon Bay is already provided for by the fire of the batteries. For these reasons the Committee do not propose to occupy the hill overlooking the battery at Kowloon Dock; they consider it will be sufficient to prepare the site, and to indicate the importance of the point in case an attack from the direction of Kowloon city is to be apprehended.
The cost of these works would be as follows:-
Converting three emplacements for 7-inch guns to 10-inch One 10-inch gun emplacement Armament, four 10-inch guns
£
8,444
..
..
•
·
Infantry post and two machine guns on adjoining hill
4,366 14,340 500
..
27,650
HONG KONG.
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The Committee is of opinion that an armament of three 9-inch guns will be sufficient for this North Point Battery. position. The battery should be inclosed and rendered defensible, it should contain barrack accom- dation for 100 men, half of which would be artillery. The bill figured 600 on plan should be levelled off and prepared for the occupation of a small body of infantry if required. A 64-pounder gun should be placed in position near this point so as to command the mine-field.
The cost will be as follows:-
Converting emplacements from 7-inch to 9-inch, and inclosing the battery.. Armament, three 9-inch guns
Emplacement for 64-pounder gun, gun-carriage, and platform in store
:::
£
3,225
7,386
2,333
12,944
In order to bring an effectual fire on vessels issuing from the Lyemoon Pass, the Committee con- Quarry Point Battery. siders it will be necessary to place the new battery at Quarry Point. The position here is a good one, for the outlook is excellent, but the site itself is very difficult. The ground is very rugged and broken, and is commanded at close range by the neighbouring hills.
If on completion of the contoured plan, it appears possible to construct an open battery on this spot, it would be advisable to do so, otherwise the guns must be placed in casemates.
In the latter case, in order to compensate for the loss of fire caused by the restricted lateral range of guns in ports, the Committee propose to increase the armament to four 10-inch guns and two 64-pounders. The latter if placed one on each flank, would sweep the road to Tytam Tuk in a very effective manner.
Quarry Point Battery should be inclosed and rendered defensible like the others, it should contain barracks for 170 men, of which 70 would be infantry.
A good position can be found for the latter on the summit of a hill due south, figured 300 on plan, and the ground should be levelled off at this spot.
The cost of the works would be:-
Battery for four 10-inch guns and two 64-pounders Armament, four 10-inch guns and two 64-pounders Barrack for 170 men and preparation of infantry position
£
22,131
14,335
10,200
46,666
Before taking into consideration the works at Kowloon West, it will be convenient to finish with the defences of the eastern entrance of the harbour.
To complete the system already proposed, the Committee recommend that another battery armed Kowloon East. with two 9-inch rifle muzzle-loading guns should be placed on the south-east corner of the peninsula of Kowloon. The site is 100 feet above the sea, and it is called Kowloon East.
The guns would be directed on the channel between North Point and Kowloon Dock, and their fire would sweep the bay west of the latter point, and also Causeway Bay, without any risk of damage to the town or shipping. The battery should be closed in rear, and accommodation could be provided for the gun detachments in the adjoining barrack.
With regard to Kowloon West, the Committee is of opinion that the battery at this point should Kowloon West, be entirely remodelled. It is at present armed with 7-inch rifled breech-loading guns, and it is proposed to substitute three 10-inch guns and one 64-pounder.
The battery should then be inclosed and furnished with an infantry garrison (with field guns) for the land defence of the position. It is considered that when the battery is converted into a strong inclosed work, and taken in connection with the battery at Kowloon East, that sufficient measures will have been taken for the defence of the south end of Kowloon Peninsula, and that the northern part, with its rice-fields and ravines, and its difficult slopes, may be left beyond the sphere of the defence.
The existing parade will furnish a suitable position for barracks for 700 men, and when this site has been agreed upon, it will be necessary to provide a defensible post for infantry on the northern side.
This post might either take the form of a crenelated wall or of two small open works, suitable for 200 infantry. In any case, its front should be flanked by the fire of field-guns, and the best position to be found would be on the mound called Elgin, or Observatory Hill.
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