293
DESPATCH.
C.O.
Governor.
No.
Joigne Yel
1902
Mch
st previous Paper.
MO
9525
Zo
14 mar
Zel 23
10222
april
Treas
B&L(78)~$2561-30000-12-02
atsubsequent Paper
10022
LONG ONG
No. 9893
(Subject.)
Rest
9363
(Reet || MAR 02
British Postal Agencies in China
(Penny Postage at -
:)
Wait for drop 57. 12 feb: Free Cct strongly recommend not to cancel order working very satisfactory read with much satisfaction Hong China: will you continuance pending receipt of full report by post.
Mr Lucas
(Minutes.)
loanction
This illustrates the disadvantages of putting a General to administer a Colony without regard to his mental capacity. The Colonial Govt. ought not in any case to have introduced so important a change without our approval & it does not appear to have occurred to them that other people are concerned besides themselves. As the G.P.O. says in 2915/1901 the consent of the Treasury must be first obtained especially as reciprocity is an essential element in the Penny Postage system. The O.C.A.G. says that the system is working well but probably the people in this country who find themselves surcharged on every letter coming from these Agencies will think differently.
As the despatch referred to cannot alter the fact that the consent of the Treasury and F.O. has not been obtained, I would not wait for it but would telegraph again saying that