Lugard was appointed Commanding Royal Engineer to the China expeditionary force accompanying the Earl of Elgin's special mission to China in 1857. Though the force assembled at Hong Kong that year, the unexpected rebellion in India reprioritised arrangements and forces destined for China were diverted away to Calcutta. Those diverted units included the newly formed 23rd Company, Royal Engineers, with their photograph equipment, upon their arrival in Singapore. Viscount Canning, Governor General of India, thought it to be about 100 sappers and miners.