)
$27,000
370
of these establishments, and to the best of my knowledge
no contribution in called for ran the logal corunities.
The incidence of the Military Contribution appears
to be a chief factor in considering the financial
situation of the British Agencies, and I am not sufficientl
informed on this subject to offer any muggestion; but the
aystar by which the Contribution is levied on the gros3
racaipte or the Agencies, that is, on a sun which represent
a heavy loss to the Colony would appear to be quen to
criticim, and I presume that the regom endations of the
Interdepar trental Committee appointed to consider this
subject may lead to a change in the nethod of angegament.
Were the necessity for this contribution ranovod, the loss
on the Agencies would be reduced to some anty-seven
thousand dollars.
In mupporting the continued maintenance of the Britia
Pootal Agencies in China, I need only refer to what I have
said in previous despatches on this subject. That Hongkong
should be reliaɣad of the burden of the loss appeare to be
only just; and in order to provide for British residents
in this country the like postal facilition engaged by othe
nationals
mil