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سیری مین کی
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agree to the discontinuance of the Tientsin Agency, but
you hoped to telegraph suggestions for meeting the
difficulty in a few days. I ɛtill await Your Lordship'e
telegram. I would respectfully point out that this Agency
could not be understood to be included with those which
this Government undertook to continue in my telegram of
September 13th., since it stands on an entirely separate
basis.
6.
Low 18637
In the recent debate on the
Estimates (a copy of which is enclosed in my Despatch No.
310 of even date) Your Lordship will observe that the
Honourable Mr. 3. A. Hewett who represents the Chamber of
Commerce and was the spokesman of the general views of the
Unofficial Members spoke as follows on this subject:-
"Turning to the Postal Agencies I think we are all of one
mind that it is quite unreasonable to expect the tax-
-Payers of Hongkong to contribute towards their losses.
It is very gratifying indeed to know that the Imperial
Government now agree to pay half of that loss and I trust
the communities concerned will put their hands in their
pockets and bear the other half. Speaking as a resident
for a great number of years in China I would be the first
to deplore the closing of the British Fost Offices, be-
-callse