13. I may also call attention to the salaries of the subordinate officers though as I have had complaint I did not consider it necessary to represent anything to Government specially on the subject. As an instance, the Compradore is paid only $480 while he has to find security for $10,000, handles over $200,000 of Government money per annum, and is responsible for the conduct of Chinese staff of over 36 servants.
The postmen too, who are supposed to be able to read and write Chinese to a certain extent, get very meagre pay—not more in a great many cases than a house coolie, and it is therefore not a matter of surprise that the local delivery service is not so perfect as it might be, were better educated men engaged.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your obedient Servant,
Received from
Table D.—Parcels Received and Despatched during the Years 1896 and 1897,
353
1896.
1897.
Increase.
Decrease.
Despatched to
1896.
1897.
Increase.
Decrease.
1896 1897 Increase Decrease Kingston, 12,400 13,078 678 United Kingdom, Germany, 11,038 9,654 1,384 Japan, Countries, Other Countries, 294 444 150 Coast Ports, 7,389 9,819 2,430 Grand Total, 18,440 24,191 5,751 Grand Total, 20,371 21,272 901A. M. THOMSON,
Postmaster General
Table E.—Revenue and Expenditure 1897.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
1896.
1897.
Increase.
Decrease.
Expenditure.
1896.
1897.
Increase.
Decrease.
1896 1897 Increase Decrease Receipts Stamps $226,387.04 $216,888.02 $9,499.02 International. Local. Description of Correspondence. Total. Despatched. Received. Postal $7,182.57 $7,178.95 $3.62 Money $4,920.18 $5,063.96 $143.78 Transit Payments to United Kingdom, $41,616.30 $47,010.75 $5,394.45 Transit Payments to Other Countries, $32,503.61 $38,302.94 $5,799.33 Commission on Money Orders, $6,769.33 $749.10 $6,020.23 Exchange on Ordinary Paid Letters, Unpaid or Short-paid Articles, $960,620 $1,137,860 $177,240 Letters on Postal Business, $5,200 $3,700 $1,500 Contribution towards P. & C. Subsidy, $43,710 $51,220 $7,510 Gratuities to Ship- Post Cards (Single), $13,780 Post Cards with reply, $260 Newspapers, Books, Circulars, &c., $390,620 Patterns, $10,660 Registered Articles, $99,960 Do. with Return Receipts, $440Table B.—Sale of Stamps at Hongkong 1896 and 1897.
1896 1897 Increase Decrease $136,900 $112,840 $24,060 Total $245,230.33 $268,616.49 $23,386.16Table F.—Parcels for United Kingdom Posted in Hongkong during the Year 1897.
Date Number of Parcels Postage Insurance Fees January $15,520.43 February $11,713.62 March $12,693.90 April $15,083.72 May $12,733.60 June $13,664.26 July $12,023.13 August $11,837.54 September $14,509.75 October $14,316.99 November $14,155.97 December $15,828.81 Brought forward 4,292 $4,559.80 $172.80 July 15th 325 $298.25 $69.40 August 12th 264 $240.10 $12.80 September 9th 253 $231.45 $8.60 October 7th 225 $218.25 $13.20 November 4th 478 $413.95 $32.40 December 2nd 594 $485.35 $23.20Table C.—Statistics of Parcels for the Year 1897.
Despatched to Ordinary Insured Received from Ordinary Insured United Kingdom 7,699 1,955 United Kingdom 780 31 India 633 201 India 221 Germany 188 Germany 212 Australia 289 Australia 101 Ceylon Ceylon Malta and Gibraltar 40 Malta and Gibraltar 328 Egypt and Canada Egypt and Canada Coast Ports 8,809 Coast Ports 9,819 Total 18,995 2,277 Total 9,654