334
Ao
15.
follows:
It is not likely that anything can be definitely arranged so early (in January 1889).
76.
ao
Supposing foreign Port Offices withdrawn, but China not admitted to the Postal Union subsequent to their withdrawal, the position would be this; China would be a non-Union country, the correspondence originating in which would find its way to the rest of the world through two Union Countries, Hongkong and Japan; the bulk of it through Hongkong.
17.
It would be far more satisfactory making any special and temporary arrangements for Hongkong at once to treat China as if it were a Union Country, that is to say;
(a) Correspondence posted at Chinese Post Offices would be prepaid in any stamps the Chinese Government chose to use; would be forwarded by Hongkong, as paid to destination; and the Chinese Post Office would keep all the postage collected on such correspondence.
(b) Once a year, till China should enter the Postal Union, or once in three years after such entry, observations would be made in Hongkong, during 28 days, of the amount of correspondence originating in China passing through. The totals of these observations would be multiplied by 13.
(c) China would pay Hongkong the actual sum this Colony would be out of pocket from having forwarded the correspondence at its own expense, plus a transit rate of 2 fr. per kilogramme for letters, 25 centimes per kilogramme for other objects. In the case of correspondence made up into closed mails, these transit rates would not be charged.
(d)