}
102
8.
substantial profit;
(o) that this was vary naudougly sefacted by the
reduction of the postare rato from 6d, to 24d. in
1801;
(f) that the institution in 1096 of the Military
Contribution tex of 1737 on Gross revenue (raised
to 80% in 1901) absorbed most, if not all,of the
profit otherwise acoming;
(<<)
that, as a result of the introduction of the Penný
Postago in 1903, the use of the Siberian route, and the ingrease in 1908 of the Postal ion "imit
of woight" from 16 to 20 grammes, there has for some years been a heavy deficit muito part from the Military Contribution,
The Postmaster General is disposed to conjecture that the recent deficits have approximately balanced the profits of earlier yanra.
It is pertinent to observe that Tong Yong never Paisol any objection on finmois) grooms to various
proposals made fron tina to time for the closing of the
Japanese agenades or the transfer of the Chinese Arenoies
to China.
7.
In the matter of moral commercial interest as
distinct from direct financial interest, the Postmaster
Gonoral is informed that the lireet commarsial relations
of the Chinese ports with Hong Kon" (okaopt Canton and to s losser degree Swatow ni moy)are rolstively unimportant, and that the interests of Tong Yong in the postal service are probably less than their Lordships
have
H