COFY.
C.O.
Despatch of Mails by the Siberian Route,
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Rece Rec 13 FEB 04!
The Siberian route was first used for the despatch of Mails from Hongkong and the British Agencies in China on the 10th November, 1903. According to instructions received from the British Postmaster-General only fully prepaid letters and post-cards are forwarded by this route.
The mails are despatched in closed bags and are addressed as follows:-
London.
Correspondence for Great Britain is addressed to London.
Correspondence for Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark to Travelling Post Office No. 18 Alexandrova Berlin.
Correspondence for Austria, Italy, Roumania and the Balkan Peninsula to Travelling Post Office No. 6 Cracov Vienne.
Correspondence for France, Spain and Portugal to Paris. Travelling Post Office Erquelines.
Correspondence for European Russia to Travelling Post Office 266 Dalny-Harbin.
The British Post Office, Shanghai, is the intermediary for Hong Kong and the Southern coast port mails and under the Shanghai weights are included all letters originating in Hongkong the Southern Agencies and Hankow.
Mails from Liu Kung Tau are despatched every alternate day to the Agent at Chefoo. Two runners have been engaged at Wei-hai-wei for this service. The Chefoo Agent despatches a mail every day which he hands over to the Russian Post Office at Chefoo. There is a daily steamship connection between Chefoo and Port Arthur.
WEIGHTS OF MAILS.
During the week ending December 19th, mails were despatched from Shanghai for Europe via Siberia on the 14th, 15th, and ...