pressing very hardly on the financial resources of this Colony at the present time.
The dollar, as you are aware, continues to depreciate in value, and the contributions of Hongkong to the Imperial Exchequer coupled with necessary gold payments have increased by $220,000 during the last three years.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most Obedient Humble servant,
William Robinson
Copy
Enclosure 120 16706
Page 20/7)
Report by the Acting Postmaster for several.
The present basis on which our share of the subsidy to the P.&O.S.N. Coy. is calculated, as far as is understood here, is the following:-
1. The distance from Brindisi to Shanghai is divided into sections and the subsidy is divided among the sections in proportion to the annual mileage of each. One half of the cost of the sections is reversed to the United Kingdom and the other half is assessed to India and the Colonies making up the number of each.
2. The Sea Postage collected by the Colonies is added to that collected...