My Lords,
General Post Office
R 104
C.O. 18626
RECP
REGE 2 NOV 83
26th October 1883
I have the honor to return the papers No. 17.496 referred to me by Your Lordships on the 18th instant respecting the contributions to be paid by the Straits Settlement and Hong Kong towards the loss incurred by the Imperial Government in providing the Mail Packet Service between England, and the Eastern Colonies under the Contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company which came into force on the 1st of February 1880.
In my recent letter on this subject dated the 17th ultimo I laid before your Lordships all the observations I desired to make as regards the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.