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three years, for which the Siberian statistics to be taken
during November, 1911, will apply, the loss to this
Colony would be at least $36,690 per annum on account of
its own correspondence.
5.
There is a prospect of the
Chinese Members of Council raising the question, on the
occasion of the Estimates, as to whether Government is
justified in continuing a Postal system at a loss, which
system benefits only a small section of the community,
and
I hardly need point out that the foreign communities in
the Treaty Ports are in a less logical position vis à vis
the Chinese rate-payers of this Colony.
6.
I, therefore, urged in my tele-
-gram under reference (a) that Military Contribution at the
Postal Agencies should be entirely remitted: and (b) that
the rate of postage viá Siberia from Hongkong and the
Agencies should be raised to 10 cents per ounce from Hong-
-kong and to 10 cents per 20 grammes from the Agencies. If
this is done, the loss incurred by this Colony will
probably be obviated as the Military Contribution
($24,528) will no longer be paid and the loss of $27,050
will be balanced by the extra receipts for correspondence
sent by the Siberian route.
7.
!