148
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MARCH, 1876.
17. The rates to the United Kingdom have not been lowered, and thus the effect of the changes noted above has been to evoke a loud and unanimous expression of disappointment from the foreign communities in China and Japan. It must be admitted that, when the postage to various out-of-the- way places has been reduced by more than one-half, the charges to Great Britain appear comparatively high.
18. The subject is, however, surrounded with difficulties with which this Office is in nowise in a position to deal. One reduction alone was within the immediate control of the Hongkong Government, namely the local and Indian rates by French Packet, and these have been reduced as much as is corn- patible with the avoidance of absolute loss, the Colony surrendering three-sevenths of the postage collected. Nothing has been left undone to lay before the London Office full and exact statements of the position of affairs here, on the Coast, at Shanghai, and in Japan.
19. A Convention between the Batavian Post Office and this Department has been under con- sideration during the year, and, though not yet completed, will probably soon come into force. The reduced rates of postage fixed by this Convention have been already adopted by this Office in antici- pation.
20. The Post Office Ordinance, 1862, being very much out of date, suggestions for a new one have been submitted, and it is to be hoped that such of them as may be approved will form the basis of an amended Act. Nothing of a harassing or inquisitorial nature has been devised, but it has been pro- posed to bring the law into conformity with the existing practice of this Office; to make it more flexible, and susceptible of easy modification, especially in matters of detail; to reduce the almost prohibitive rates of Coast postage; and to establish a penny Tariff between this Colony, Canton, and Macao.
21. Whilst it is impossible not to sympathise with those who feel some of the present rates of Postage to be heavy, it may be allowable to point out that they do not always make the most of privileges already possessed. The amount of overstamping observable on the morning of an English Mail is something startling. Some persons imagine that the Rate to England is still 32 cents! Others post hundreds of trade circulars prepaid six cents each, but which, weighing less than an ounce, would pass for four cents. Others, again, put up circulars in bundles, which they prepay at so much per copy, instead of paying the whole at so much per four ounces. It is but just to point out these errors, which must swell the postage accounts of some firms considerably.
22. During the year the list of Unclaimed and Dead Letters lying in this Office has been sent weekly to all the Ports, Macao, and Manila. The Agents at the Ports have also sent their own lists here. The result has been to dispose of a good deal of correspondence which would otherwise not have been delivered. The Hongkong lists have been inserted in the local papers, free of charge, and this has led to an increase of applications for Dead or Unclaimed Letters. These classes of Chinese correspondence have also been advertised in Chinese with satisfactory results.
23. Persons sometimes very much resent the opening of their letters, when returned as Dead, or because of deficient postage. If every letter were marked with the sender's name and address (a con- venient practice in which the Chinese set us an excellent example, for with them it is almost universal) no letter need ever be opened. This address might very cheaply and usefully take the place of the unintelligible monograms and crests now in fashion.
24. It would facilitate the work of the Post Office here if those who provide printed envelopes for their local and Coast correspondence would add the addresses in Chinese.
25. The Packets of the Occidental and Oriental Steam Ship Company have been recognised as United States Contract Mail boats, and thus the advantage has been enjoyed of communication generally twice in the month with San Francisco and the United States, The privilege of registering corres- pondence by this route has also been accorded, but the Chinese, and others who were expected to avail themselves of it, have not as yet done so to the extent that was anticipated. This opportunity must be taken to acknowledge the promptitude and courtesy with which the wishes of this Office have been met in every matter by the United States Postal authorities.
26. Some difficulty having attended the forwarding of correspondence for H. M. Legation at Peking, more especially by the French Mail, all letters, &c., for that Legation, and for members of the Consular service at or beyond Shanghai, are now forwarded in a closed Consular Mail to the Shanghai Consulate.