No. 144,300.
GENERAL POST OFFICE LONDON, 3rd December, 1888.
Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th of October last, No. 712, in which, with reference to the communication from this Department of the 4th September, you urge that samples of sugar should be allowed to pass through the post between China and this country.
The Department has carefully reconsidered this question, but it can see no reason for altering its opinion that the transmission of sugar from hot climates, or indeed under any circumstances, is contrary to the provisions of Article 5 of the Convention of Paris of 1878, which forbids the transmission of anything likely to stain or injure the correspondence.
It is possible, no doubt, that samples of sugar may sometimes pass through the post without injurious results; but, on the other hand, it is the experience of the Officers here that such samples frequently arrive in an almost liquid condition, and it is not found that sufficient security is afforded by packing them in the way you suggest, as even Tin Boxes are liable to be crushed to a sufficient extent to allow of the moisture exuding and damaging the correspondence.
Packets in such a condition were received here from Batavia on several occasions last year—causing considerable damage—and it was found necessary to remonstrate strongly with the Batavian Post Office, through the Director of Posts at The Hague.
Under these circumstances, the Department, while regretting any inconvenience which may result from this needful restriction being enforced, must ask you to be so good as to take steps to prevent the transmission of sugar samples to this country in future.
You enclosed...
I may add that, in the view of the Department, the foregoing objections apply equally to the transmission of soap and candles, both of which articles are described as admissible in the extract from the Local Postal Guide which...
I am,
Sir, Your obedient Servant,
The Postmaster General, Hongkong.
(Signed) G. HARDY.
(B.)—MAIL DEPARTURE ON MONDAY.
No. 487.
GENERAL POST OFFICE,
LONDON, 7th April, 1881.
SIR, I have received your letter of the 15th February last, in which, whilst acknowledging the receipt of a supply of copies of the Time Table of the India and China Mail Packet Services for the present year, you call attention to an inconvenience which you state is felt by the community of Hongkong by Monday having been fixed for the departure of the homeward Packet during half the year, viz. from October to March.
The Postmaster General is sorry for the inconvenience this occasioned to the community of Hongkong, but he does not at present see any remedy for it. In arranging a service like that of the combined India, China and Australia Mails, all in connection at Suez with a single line to Brindisi, it is obviously not possible to suit the convenience of every place served. All that can be done is to make the best general arrangements which are practicable.
Last year it was found that there was not sufficient interval between the arrival of the India Mail in England and the return Mail, and great inconvenience was experienced here in consequence. In order to remove this inconvenience arrangements were concerted, after much deliberation between the India Office and this Department, for bringing the Mails into London regularly every Tuesday throughout the year, so as to allow sufficient time to all parts of the Kingdom to receive letters and answer them by the return Mail.
This advantage is attained by the present Time Table, and the arrangement promises to be successful.
It will no doubt prove most acceptable to the Mercantile and other interests connected with India and China, and the Postmaster General would be very reluctant to make any change which would interfere with the scheme.
The Postmaster General, Hongkong.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) EDW. H. REA.
(C.)—COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 1880 & 1881.
1881 1880 Imperial and Foreign Share, Conveyance of Mails and contribution towards P. & O. Subsidy, $31,344.88 $33,430.74 Decrease, $2,085.86 $11,588.78 $20,501.87 Decrease, $9,913.09 Expenditure, $31,901.92 Balance, ...$27,874.98 Gross Revenue, .... $102,710.56 * The Contribution for 1880-1 has not yet been assessed, and was not paid. The large decrease is therefore only apparent. Crown Agents' account not included. $1,182.95% .$18,388.89 $6,206.99 $33,084.87 $9,486.09 Decrease,... Increase, $96,503.57 Increase,