220
13. I may also call attention to the salaries of the subordinate officers though as I have had no complaint I did not consider it necessary to represent anything to Government specially on the subject. As an instance, the Compradore is paid only $480 while he has to find security for $1,000, handles over $200,000 of Government money per annum, and is responsible for the conduct of the Chinese staff of over 36 servants.
The postmen too, who are supposed to be able to read and write Chinese to a certain extent, get very meagre pay-not more in a great many cases than a house coolie, and it is therefore not a matter of surprise that the local delivery service is not so perfect as it might be, were better educated men engaged.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Table A.-Approximate Statistics for the Year 1897.
A. M. THOMSON,
Postmaster General.
International,
Local.
Comparison with 1896.
Description of Correspondence.
Total.
Des- patched.
Received.
Des- patched.
Received.
Total in 1896.
Increase. Decrease.
Ordinary Paid Letters,
Unpaid or Short-paid Articles,. Letters on Postal Business, Post Cards (Single),
Post Cards with reply, .................. Newspapers, Books, Circulars, &, Patterns,
Registered Articles,
960,620 1,137,860 89,010
51,220
2,237,710 | 2,100,930 |136,780
5,200 39,420
620
470
46,710
29,030 16,680
3,700
3,420
1,510
1,010
9,670
10,120
450
13,780
27,350
1,380
630
43,140
35,130 8,010
260
650
50
30
990
1,630
610
| 390,620 |1,172,780|| 59,230
12,950 | 1,635,580
1,356,370 279,210
Do..
with Return Receipts,...
10,660 26,210 340 99,960 160,010 19,460 440 4,670 110
470
11,110
130
37,680 290,540 5,350
41,620
3,940
241,280
19,260 3,140 2,210
Local Delivery :--Letters, Circulars, &c.,
136,900
112,840 | 24,060
Table B.-Sale of Stamps at Hongkong 1896 and 1897.
January,
February,
March,
April,
1896. .$15,520.43
1897.
$16,004.76
11,713.62
13,565.94
12,693.90
16,375.21
15,083.72
14,234.29
May,.....
12,218.73
14,743.61
June,
12,733.60
13,811.74
July,
13,664.26
14,427.57
August,
12,023.13
18,149.32
September,
11,837.54
15,591.71
October,
14,509.75
14,316.99
November,
14,155.97
15,644.49
December,
15,828.81
19,593.87
$161,983.46
$181,459.50
Table C.-Statistics of Parcels for the Year 1897.
Despatched to
Ordinary.
Insured.
Received from
Ordinary. Insured.
United Kingdom,
7,699
1,955 United Kingdom,................
11,851
India,
812
322 India,
720
1,222 300
Germany,
221
Germany,
633
Australia,
212
Australia,
188
Ceylon,
101
Ceylon,
108
Malta and Gibraltar,..
40
Malta and Gibraltar,
41
Egypt and Canada,
91
Egypt and Canada,
323
Coast Ports,
9,819
Coast Ports,.
8,808
Total,........
18,995
2,277
Total.........
22,672
1,522