145
18. The amount of Peak and Kaulung correspondence carried during 1890 is shown by the subjoined figures:-
Peak.. Kaulung,
Sent to
4,802
1.813
Received from
8
128
I have pleasure in thanking the Manager of the High Level Tramway Company for the facilities granted to the Peak Postmen.
19. Approximate Statistics for 1890 are annexed and are conspicuous for the gratifying decrease in the number of unpaid and short paid articles. They also point to a large increase of ordinary correspondence, postcards, newspapers, registered articles and parcels.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
The Honourable W. M. DEANE, C.M.G.,
Acting Colonial Secretary, &C.,
&C..
&c.
APPROXIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1890.
ARTHUR K. TRAVERS,
Postmaster General,
INTERNATIONAL.
LOCAL.
COMPARISON WITH 1889.
DESCRIPTION OF CORRESPONDENCE.
TOTAL.
Des- patched.
Received.
Des. patched.
Received.
Total in 1889.
Increase. Decrease.
Ordinary paid Letters,..
Unpaid and short paid Articles,
641,000 526,700 76,700
81,350
6,000
15,750
900
150
Letters on Postal Business,
1,550
3,250
1,800
1,500
Post Cards,
11,100
6,800
4,500
1,900
1,325,750 | 1,283,700 22,800 39,180 8,100 8,350 24,300 13,700 10,600
42,050
16,380 250
Newspapers, Periodicals, Books, Circulars, &c.,..
308,500
565,550
46,500
28,800
949,350
920,000- 29,360
Patterns,
4,250.
15,650
50
50
Registered Articles,
35,000
60,400
9,200
Do. with Return Receipts,
Parcels,
150 6,200
1,200 10,000
50 5,150
6,000 50
3,700
20,000 110,600 1,450 25,050
23,700
3,700
96,400
14,200
2,200
750
17,030
8,020
(Translation.)
FRENCH CONSULATE,
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 22nd May, 1889.
SIR, The French Government have been pleased, in response to the expressed wishes of the Colony of Hongkong, to entertain with favour the delicate proposal made to them of placing a British Mail Agent on board the packet boats of the Messageries Maritimes for the purpose of sorting, between Saigon and Hongkong, correspondence intended for the latter Colony or for transmission to North China.
Such officer would be taken on board on the following conditions :-
**
The upper mail room in the "batterie" would be placed at his disposal, and would be fitted up for use as an office, but only between Saigon and Hongkong. The agent would besides have the free enjoyment of a first class cabin from Singapore to Hongkong and vice versâ, and would be admitted to the same table as first class passengers upon payment of one half of the usual tariff.
Instructions have been sent by the Messageries Maritimes Co. to its agency at Marseilles to effect the necessary alteration on board the packets of the Indo-China line.
I shall be obliged if His Excellency will inform me whether the Colonial Government consents to these terms, and, if it does, from what date they may come into operation.
I have the honour to be,
His Excellency Sir GEO. W. DES Vœux, K.C.M.G.,
Governor of Hongkong, &c., &c., &c.
(Translation.)
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
BEZAURE.
FRENCH REPUBLIC, PARIS, 5th February, 1890.
SIR,―This Administration has just learned that the Colonial Authorities of Hongkong in the name of your office, have recently taken fresh steps to secure the admission on board the packet boats of the Messageries Maritimes of a British Agent who would start from Singapore and sort correspondence intended for Hongkong.
In its great desire to contribute as much as lay in its power to the improvement of the Postal Service of Hongkong, this Administration had actually taken the scheme into consideration, notwith- standing the very serious inconveniences which might result to the French Service from its adoption.