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performed by the British Postmaster at this place, would have to exercise supervision and control over the other Agencies, and would also, in some measure, be required to conduct correspondence or negotiations with other Adminis- trations. It would therefore be necessary that he should possess considerable familiarity with the details and
practical working of the Postal Union Convention, and these additional responsibilities would no doubt entail remunera- tion in excess of the £100 now paid by the Imperial Government to the Postmaster General of Hong Kong.
2. Although the Postmaster General has thought it right to place these considerations on record, he under- stands that His Majesty's Government is anxious, in spite of the attendant difficulties, that the transfer of the
Agencies to his Department should be carried out with as little delay as possible; and he will, accordingly, use his best endeavours to that end, He is prepared to
accept the suggestion of the Colonial Office that the nominal date of the change should be the 1st January next.
It appears to him that before any definite scheme
can be formulated it is essential that he should be fur-
nished with full information both as to the present
"personnel" and methods of administration, and also as to the financial position, with regard to which there remains some considerable obscurity. He has ascertained from
the Colonial Office that that Department is unable, without further enquiry from Hong Kong, to furnish him with any definite information on these subjects beyond that which
can