Enclosure No. 2 to Despatch No. 4 of the 25th August, 1902
Sir,
Government House,
Hongkong, 14th July, 1902.
With reference to my letter No. 63/G of the 34th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that I am of the opinion, in which the Acting Postmaster-General concurs, that it would be best, and certainly cheapest for the Colony of Wei-Hai-Wei, to continue for the present, at any rate, the existing postal arrangements. If you agree I shall be glad if you will endeavour to find a successor to the present Postal Agent at Liu Kang Tau.
2. In this connection, I forward for your information the enclosed copy of a letter from His Britannic Majesty's Consul at Chefoo, containing an offer from the Firm of Messrs. Curtis Brothers to undertake an Agency at that Port of the Hongkong Post Office, a proposal which, with your concurrence, I purpose recommending to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
3. I have also authorised the Acting Postmaster-General to make enquiries with a view to the establishment of an Agency at Tientsin, and I am myself addressing His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of the proposal to establish an Agency of the Hongkong Post Office at that place. I am of opinion that a decision can be arrived at in these matters without sending an Officer of the Post Office here to the places mentioned, and in any case there is no experienced Officer who can be spared to undertake such mission.
4. I have etc.,
(Signed) W. J. Gascoigne,
Major-General,
Administering the Government.
His Honour
J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.
His Majesty's Commissioner,
Wei-Hai-Wei.