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with the Department I represent at
Washington, that if
Dav...
I would venture to
suggest arrangement could be made
by which American Merchants and others residing within the Colony could receive
their letters free of a greater charge than the 10th in United States Currency subjects them to, the necessities of keeping accounts would
be avoided and
equal facilities
would be
to the Public in the U States and
given in China.
Should it meet His Excellency's views I would submit a proposition to the Postmaster General at Washington to the effect that if the Post Office of this Colony, will distribute free of charge the Mails in the Colony and forward the other Mails
to the Ports south of Shanghai with the
exception of Ningpo, brought
over
by the
Pacific Mail S. Ship Company, then in such case the letters for the
Colony, on paying a postage of 8 Hongkong Currency for the 1/2 oz.
and 20 ... on in proportion and 2d for Newspapers shall be distributed free in the Colony,
or carried beyond the boundaries of the Colony. The Department at Washington is
in power to charge postage in accordance with its now vires to China,
but the Colony of Hongkong is to receive and retain postage at the above rates for all letters and newspapers going through the United States from Hongkong, which shall be delivered free of extra
charge.