HONGKONG. GENERAL.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28TH MAY, 1881.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY TO Governor SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C:M.G,
DOWNING STREET,
381
14th April, 1881.
SIR,--With reference to my Despatch marked "General" of the 25th of May, 1880, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a letter from the General Post Office with reference to the amount remitted by the Colony of Hongkong for the year ended the 31st of March, 1879, on account of its share of the additional loss to the Imperial Exchequer through the reduction of postage on its correspondence with the United Kingdom and other Union Countries, and stating that it is proposed to adjust the total surplus in hand, amounting to One thou- sand.three hundred and seventy seven pounds (£1377), in the next year's account, which, for the reasons stated, will probably shew a larger contribution to be payable by the Colony under your Government.
I have the honour to be,
Sir.
Your most obedient humble Servant,
Governor Sir J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G.,
&c.,
&c..
fc.
KIMBERLEY.
(Copy)
181 F.
THE POST OFFICE TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE.
GENERAL POST OFFICE, LONDON, 6th April, 1881.
SIR, With reference to the letter of the 18th of May, 1880, from this Department, and previous correspondence, I am directed by the Postmaster General to state, for the information of the Earl of KIMBERLEY, that the amounts due for the year ended the 31st of March, 1879, from the undermen- tioned British Colonies belonging to the Postal Union, on account of the additional loss to the Imperial Exchequer through the reduction of Postage on their correspondence with the United Kingdom, and other Union Countries, have now been ascertained to be as follows
Eastern Colonies.
Ceylon,. Hongkong,
..£1,816 2,456
Labuan,
$
27
Western Colonies.
Bermuda,..
42
1,044
2,164,
1,017
British Guiana, Jamaica, Trinidad,.
I am to request that you will be good enough to move Lord KIMBERLEY to call upon each of the Colonies concerned (except Hongkong) to pay the amount due from it as stated above.
The Colony of Hongkong has already remitted a sum of £3,150 on account of its share of the loss for the year 1878-79, so that, after defraying the amount ascertained to be due, there will still remain a sum of £694, which, added to the balance of £683, brought forward from the previous account, brings the surplus in hand for the two years to a total amount of £1,377. This sum it is proposed to adjust in the next year's account, which will probably show a larger contribution to be payable by Hongkong in consequence of the further reduction in the rates of Postage from the 1st of April, 1879, under the regulations of the Convention of Paris.
The returns relating to the Straits Settlements cannot be finally closed until after the receipt of the information referred to in my other letter of this day's date, with regard to the Philippine Islands correspondence posted at Singapore during the year 1876-77.
R. G. W. HERBERT, Esq.,
Colonial Office.
I am, &c..
(Signed)
S. A. BLACKWOOD.