RUARY,
1889.
107
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2nd FEBRUARY,
In order to attain this result the mail packet as a general rale, will leave Hongkong at daylight and this it is believed will be a convenient arrangement to the community. The days of departure will be Thursday in the fair season and Sunday in the monsoon and this will admit of the mails, being closed and put on board the night before so that the Packets can leave at the early dawn and get a clear departure from the Port.
In connection with this subject of leaving Hongkong and the allusion made to the French Mail hours it is right I should point out that a reference to the letter written by the Postmaster General of Hongkong to the Colonial Secretary dated the 16th of June, 1886, shows the reason of the Messageries Company in fixing noon for leaving Hongkong to be in no way out of consideration for any wishes expressed by that community but in order to permit of their saving daylight at the mouth of the Saigon River.
Sir ROBERT G. W. HERBERT, K.C.B.,
I am, &c.,
(Signed),
ED. H. REA.
Colonial Office.
B.-APPROXIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1888.
INTERNATIONAL.
LOCAL.
COMPARISON WITH 1887.
DESCRIPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.
TOTAL.
De- spatched.
Received.
De- spatched.
Received.
Total in 1887.
Increase. Decrease.
Ordinary paid Letters,
545,650 472.200
70,750
58,100
Unpaid and short paid Articles,.
11,500
26,450
2,300
5,750
1,147,000 46,000
1,120,000
27,000
44,000
2,000
Letters on Postal Business,
1,380
1,150
1,495
1,380
5,405
4.400
1.005
Post Cards,
5,750
3,450
3,450
1,725
14,375
12,500
1,875
Do., with prepaid reply,
Newspapers and Periodicals,
140,900
260,700
41,550
17,400
460,550
437.000
23,550
Books, Circulars, Prices Current, &c.,
222.500
85,050
17,250
13,225
338,025
323.500
14,525
Patterns,
5,750
2,300
1,150
575
9,775
9,500
275
Commercial Papers,
Registered Articles,
24,750
35,000
4,625
4,750
69,125
62,500
6.625
Letters with value declared,
Registered Articles with Return Receipts,
345
5,750
115
115
6,325
5,500
825
Parcels,
4,403
6,190
1,150
1,380
13,123
11,607
1,516
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. —No. 49.
The following Returns of the Average Amount of BANK NOTES in Circulation and of Specie in Reserve in Hongkong, during the Month ended 31st January, 1889, as certified by the Managers of the respective Banks, are published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 2nd February, 1889.
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary.
BANKS.
AVERAGE AMOUNT.
SPECIE IN RESERVE.
$
Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China,
1,516,385
510,000
Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China,.
1,654,238
600,000
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,
3,253,598
1,500,000
TOTAL.....
.$ 6,424,221
2,610,000
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. --No. 50.
The following Returns from the Registrar General are published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Ilongkong, 2nd February, 1889.
FREDERICK STEWART, Colonial Secretary ·