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SUPPLEMENT
To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 10th January, 1885.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 18.
The following Annual Report of the Postmaster General is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th January, 1885.
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary.
1884.
GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG, January 1st, 1885.
S---I have the honour to report on the British Postal service in Hongkong and China during
2. An important extension of Money Order facilities has taken place, in the introduction of Postal Notes. For many years past Money Orders have been obtainable only at Hongkong or Shanghai. Residents at the other ports had to obtain them from one or other of these offices, which could not be arranged without a good deal of delay and trouble. Postal Notes on the United Kingdom for fixed amounts, varying from one shilling to twenty shillings, are now to be had at Canton, Swatow, Amoy, Fochow, Ningpo and Hankow, besides Hongkong and Shanghai. At present both Money Orders and Postal Notes on the United Kingdom are on sale in these two latter offices, but the Postal Notes elvet such a simplification of accounts as compared with the Money Order system, that, during the present year, the question will be taken into consideration whether it is not possible to abolish Money Orders (on the United Kingdom) and use Postal Notes only.
3. Either means of remittance has its own advantages. The Postal Note is more quickly and easily obtained, it is payable anywhere in the United Kingdom and with less formality than the Money Order, whilst the saving of work it effects in the Post Office is immense. On the other hand the price of the Postal Note is fixed, so that the purchaser does not get the benefit of a rise in Exchange; the commission charged on each note makes the remittance of a broken sum comparatively rather expensive, whilst the sender's having to put seven or eight pieces of paper into his letter instead of one still further als to this expense. A Postal Note lost is beyond remedy, whereas a Money Order may be lost and the money remain safe. It would however have been impossible to introduce the sale of Money Orders or smaller offices, but Postal Notes can easily be sold at them all. If Postal Notes are made the mens of remittance it will be possible to continue their sale to an hour much nearer the time of Sug the mail than is at present the case with Money Orders.
4. Other additious to our Money Order system are in progress. Arrangements are under con- iration for the exchange of Money Orders with Portugal, with the United States, and with Hawaii. It is hoped that before another annual Report is presented these exchanges may be in operation. The Under office now pays its own expenses, if indeed it does not secure a somll profit. Instructions ets to the presentation of Administrative Reports within the first seven days of the new year
lly prevent, however, any satisfactory or complete statement of accounts.
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5. The subject of a Savings Bank had long been under the consideration of this Department, but et that every officer of it is overworked, and that no increase to the staff would have been sanctioned rious obstacle. At length a plan was submitted for conducting a Savings Bank two days a in the Stamp Office, which, under the same roof as the Post Office, is happily exempt from s of work inevitable in the Postal service of a Colony well described as a sort of Clapham for steamers.' Whilst this plan was under consideration, however, the Hongkong and Bank offered to carry on a Savings Bank on terus in many respects more favourable to s than those contemplated by the Government scheme. This offer was accepted. Its main ture is that the Bank is open every day, instead of two days a week only, and that depositors Irove $100 to credit can at once open a Banking account and increase their deposits indefinitely. inst this may be set the fact that the deposits are not secured by the Government, but this would to have been no obstacle to the success of a Savings Bank at Shanghai, and need not be here. Hongkong Savings Bank was opened on May 1st, and already more than $50,000 has been
*The above figures Lave been kindly supplied by the Chief Maneger of the Hongkong and Shanghai Fank,