On the latter point I consulted the Secretary
of this Department, and I enclose a Copy
of his opinion which I have
transmitted to the Deputy Postmaster General
for his present guidance in the matter.
With regard to the Official
correspondence to & from Hong Kong, I assume your Lordships cannot for
the moment sanction the directions given by Sir Henry Pottinger to exempt such correspondence from the rates of Postage to which it is liable, as such a course would operate to establish a peculiar privilege in that Colony,
There seems to be no Objection to Arrangements being opened between the Deputy Postmaster General and the several Public Departments in the Colony upon the System as at present is pursued
in this Country and Canada. In the latter Country the amount is paid to the Post office by the various Departments,
in the case
of Hong Kong it will be for
your Lordships to determine in what
way
Page 200
ment for this official postage
shall be made to the Post Office Revenue.
The postage on the Official correspondence
between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom is already brought to account both Outwards and Inwards in this country and the arrangement therefore I propose could have reference almost entirely to the Official correspondence to & from Hong Kong, and India,
and China.
With this view and pending your Lordships decision in the matter, I have directed the Deputy Postmaster General to open accounts of this nature with the following Public Departments and Officers in the Colony, viz
The Governor
The Colonial Secretary
Engineers
Artillery
Commanding Officer
the
L...