No
General Post Office,
Hong Kong, th July 1900
549
}
Sir,
I have the honour to forward a letter, No 15 of the 4th
July 1900, received from the Postmaster at Shanghai, reporting on
the inadequacy of the resent Staff there, and giving full details
of the clerks required and the Cubles that they will
be assigned.
I would beg leave most respectfully to strongly recom-
-end and support the subject of this report, for favourable con-
-sideration; and if I may be allowed I would just mention that
when dealing with the requirements of the Post Office Department, in
a report to the Secretary of State in answer to an enquiry sent him in London, the Postmaster Gener 1 (ptain Hastings) distinctly stated that both his Reports sent referred solely to the Song
Kong Post Offices." Captain Hastings also added: "Postal huɛi-
"-ness has, end is largely increasing t Shanghai and e fureed to
the fact that :"Coglints have. for y MPs past a volent i th
on bion
"lock?
to h.. trad- at both of
"in the British Post Office at Shanghai and the Post master (aor
"retiring) has repeatedly reported in the same sense”.
The delay in not making earlier application to the
Government for an increase of Staff at Shanghai, was primarily owing toite having been thought best to await a report asked for from the Local Auditor when he visited the Shanghai Office,uhich
he expected to have done early in this year. As this visit has
been impossible to the present and as the year is so far advanced
and the necessity to do something very soon to meet the present
and growing wants of this Office, I have no hesitation therefor-