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China Packet Service, no longer including Japan, has risen to about £40,000 a year.
The China Mail Service, as provided by Her Majesty's Government, has consisted for many years of a main line of Packet calling at Hong Kong and Shanghai only. No branch services to the Treaty Ports are provided; and in this respect Foochow is on the same footing as other places. If Canton, Amoy, Swatow and the Yangtze Ports enjoy regular and frequent communication with Hong Kong and Shanghai, as the Memorialists allege, such communication is provided from local resources and not by the aid of Her Majesty's Government.
From information obtained by the Postmaster General of Hong Kong in 1870 it appeared that the cost of establishing such a Branch line of Packet as that desired by the memorialists would be about £9,000 a year; and Mr. Fawcett is of opinion that such a line is not required to meet local needs.