279
10
No. 1901
HONGKONG.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE BRITISH POST OFFICES IN CHINA,
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of
His Excellency the Governor.
REPORT.
We beg to attach Tables showing the Revenue and Expenditure of each of the British Post Offices in China for 1900.
In order to find out approximately the surplus or deficit in each case, it is necessary to apportion the Imperial Subsidy on the one side, Stationery and share of P. & (). Subsidy on the other, in accord- ance with the Revenue Table.
This can best be done by subtracting $7,100 from $31,475 leaving $24,375 to be added to the expenditure of the various offices in proportion to their revenues.
Therefore in the case of Shanghai, there has to be added :-
35,807
× $24,375 which is approximately $10,400. 81,887
This added to $31,724 gives a total expenditure of $42,124, therefore showing a deficit of $6,317. Even allowing some amount to Shanghai for work done on behalf of Ningpo and Hankow, it is apparent that the first named is run at a loss.
On this principle, all the other offices, except, obviously, Ningpo, earn some small profit.
As, however, it would be impracticable to abolish the Shanghai Office without abandoning the whole system, and as the total revenue shows an excess over the total expenditure, it would appear that there is no necessity for other action at present except to watch carefully any increase of the latter.
We recommend that, in the course of the next two or three years, another investigation should take place.
A. M. THOMSON,
Treasurer.
E. CORNEWALL LEWIS,
Acting Fostmaster General,
Hongkong, 25th February, 1901.
Shanghai, Ningpo, Hankow...... Liukung Tau, Hoibow,
Canton,
Swatow,
Amoy,
Foochow,
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
OF H.B.M. POSTAL AGENCIES IN CHINA IN 1900.
AGENCY.
REVENCE.
EXPENDITURE.
C.
35,807.86
305.77
4,994.79
2,080.62
c.
31,724.08
716.34 2,173.75 982.56
1,106.86
506.04
13,603.18
7,759.25
5,814.30
3,586.68
11,180.78
5,642.44
6,993.28
3,928.76
81,887.44
57,019.90
Stationery,
1,500.00
Share of P. & Q. Mail Subsidy,
29,975.00
Contribution from Imperial Post Office,
7,100.00
Totals,....
88,987.44
88,494.90