COPY.
Sir,
175
C. O.
19353
Sub-enclosure to Enclosure No.1 in Despatch
No. 45, of the 29th January, 1902.
RES: 3 MAR 02
R.B.V. Post Office,
Amoy, January 15th, 1903.
I have the honour to report that M. Bernard, Superintendent of the French Cable in Amoy, has made arrangements for opening a French Post Office here on the 1st Proximo, and has leased for that purpose a room in the Offices of Messrs. Kung Phoe Chun and Company situated on the Bund of the British Concession. By the terms of their lease, however, Messrs. Kung Phoe Chun and Company are not allowed to sublet any part of their premises to an alien without the special permission in writing of H.B.M. Consul, and this permission they have omitted to apply for. Mr. Mansfield has informed them that they must apply for this permission when the matter will be referred to Peking.
If the French Post Office is established on the Amoy side of the harbour, it will compete most seriously with the British Post Office which is not so advantageously situated. The Customs Post Office on the Bund at present does a great deal of work, which would otherwise be undertaken by the British Office, but without involving us in any pecuniary loss, as, not being in the Postal Union, they have to purchase British stamps with which to frank letters for places outside China. The amount of these purchases is $300 per month. If this business is absorbed by the French Post Office, as appears not unlikely to be the case if they have their Office in the business quarter, it will mean a dead loss to us of $300 a month.
I am also informed, though I cannot vouch for the truth of the report, that M. Bernard intends to charge a reduced postage of only 9 cents on foreign letters. If this is true the British Post Office will be involved in a still further loss. One certain result would be that the Customs would purchase French instead of British stamps wherewith to frank their letters.
To the Postmaster-General,
Hongkong.
I have etc.,
(sgd.) J. S. Pratt,
Postal Agent.
F
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