Letters.
Papers.
Land rate
Sea rate
12.60
3.90
Francs.
0.90 Francs.
.482
14
Total 16.50
1.38%
592
a reduction of francs 1.40 per kilogramme for letters and 10 centimes for papers and repudiating the Hong Kong territorial rate or a total lowering of the agreed on rate for letters per kilogramme francs 3.30 and papers 32 centimes, the alleged reasons for this demand being the friendly sympathy which the Hong Kong office has shown to the young Chinese Service from the beginning and also that even the Shanghai rate would not make International postage remunerative to China, but that the new system would at least relieve the Chinese office of a work burdensome and dangerous, the affixing of Foreign stamps.
On a rough calculation this sympathy would cost the Colony about $6,500 on letters alone exclusive of the loss from sale of stamps.
The letter of the 8th February was supplemented by one dated 9th February forwarding a draft Arrangement undated and signed by the Postal Secretary, Mr. Van Aalst, on behalf