ૐ
HONG KONG
G/T/44835
L
73
DRAFT.
The Secretary
the
Treasury
MINUTE.
Mr. Stubbs All Mr. Fiddian.
Mr. Just.
Mr. Antrobus,
Mr. Cox.
Mr. Lucas.
Sir F. Hopwood.
Mr. Churchill.
The Earl of Elgin.
Copy 44835-
& this to T.O.
B1⁄4/a
Ser 7.D.L. 23.11.07.
28rafts
Anod 12471
Sir,
8
Jan 1908
I am directed by the E of E to
forward to you for the observations of
the L.C. of the Treasury the enclosed
copy of a despatch from the Governor
of Hong Kong with regard to the cost
of the British Postal Agencies in the
Treaty Ports of China.
...does not see that he can Lord Elgin cannot assent to the continuance of a system under which it
the Colony of Hong Kong conducts at a
loss a service which is maintained in
the interests of the whole Empire and
of British subjects residing in China,
and therefore, unless some arrangement
for the Colony can be made to avoid or lessen the undertaking his Lordship will be
forced to advise the Colonial Govt
that it will be necessary to close the Agencies, with the exception
that at Weihaiwei which will then
have to be taken over by the Govt of
that Territory.
3 His Lordship is prepared to consider
suggestions that the T.C may wish
to put forward, but his opinion is
that the proper solution would be that
the Military Contribution should be...