352

your

Lordships for

for the commencement of the Hong Kong contribution. I find it necessary to ask for your decision as to the payment

to be required from the bolony for the period between the 1st of February 1880, when the

new contract with the Peninsular and Oriental

Steam Navigation Company commenced, and the 1st of February 1883.

As

the

Prior to the 1st of February 1880, Hong. Kong contributed about £2735 a year Colonial share of additional loss caused by the reduction of postage resulting from her entry into the Portal Union; but no assessment

under this head has been made against the

bolony since the 1st of February 1880, in the expectation that, in lei of it, the bolony would

pay the contribution towards the loas

on the

Packet

Packet Service demanded by Her Majesty's

Government. I apprehend that, in consequence of

the

your Lordships' recent decision to accept

the 1st of February 1883

Colony's contribution from the jet

instead of from the 1st of February 1880, the prior claim for

the three

year;

will have to

loss on

postage will revive

for

and in such case this Department

ravel

a claim

against Hong Kong

of about £8,200 less a sum

this Office has on hand in

overpayment by Hong Kong

of £1699 which

the shape of an

on account of

additional loss to the 31st of January 1880.

With reference to the Straits Settlements,

to be held responsible

I presume that bolony is

for the payment of the sum

of

£6000 per annum

from the date when the present Peninsular and

Oriental bontract came into force, viz

viz jet

of February

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