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(d) with regard to correspondence for China from foreign countries, the expenses of transit would be arranged by Hongkong with the Countries of origin, which are responsible for such expenses, and the correspondence would reach Chinese Offices as paid.
18. This is precisely the course which has been adopted with regard to the Colony of Labuan, the Post Office of which used to be regarded as a kind of semi-recognised agency of this Office. The financial results are, I should imagine, satisfactory to that Colony.
19. A great number of details will require settlement in the event of the acceptance of this proposal, but it is useless to attempt to deal with them at present. I will only say that I know of none incapable of satisfactory adjustment. For the information of the Imperial Post Office, I may add that the almost daily communication between this Port and Shanghai, and the possession by the Chinese Government of a line of steamers will prevent any difficulty as to the conveyance of mails, even if both the English and French mail lines should cease to operate further than Hongkong.
20. The desirability of simplifying Postal matters at Shanghai, where, in a moderate-sized settlement, there are half a dozen different Post Offices, is a point on which I have reported so often that it is needless now to say more about it.
I have &c.,
Lister, Postmaster General.
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