but the Postmaster General has now secured the services of Mr. Edward Hugh Rea, a gentleman who has for nearly 20 years been employed in the Colonial branch of the Secretary's Office, and who is thoroughly conversant with all the business which is required to be performed.
The Duke of Montrose requests that the Earl of Carnarvon will have the goodness to inform the Governor of Hong Kong of the appointment of Mr. Rea, Special Surveyor, to perform this duty, requesting His Excellency to give Mr. Rea every assistance in his power in prosecuting his mission.
One of the objects which the Duke of Montrose has in view, and to which His Grace would wish the particular attention of the Governor to be called, is the Post Office Agencies in China and Japan under the immediate and exclusive control of the Government of Hong Kong. At present an arrangement exists under which the Imperial and Colonial Governments share, in a manner, the control and expense of the Agencies; the salaries of the several agents being paid from the Imperial Revenue while all other expenses are borne by the Government of Hong Kong.
Such an arrangement could only be considered as temporary until some better plan could be devised; and, as it is obvious that the control can be more satisfactorily exercised by the Colonial Government, which is near at hand, His Grace wishes that Government to undertake the entire expense and management of the Agencies, on the understanding that it is to place the whole of the Port...