The postal services between Hongkong and the United Kingdom are being maintained as far as circumstances permit, viz., those dated the 7th and 8th November from London, and the services to all allied and neutral countries are working satisfactorily. The services to enemy countries were suspended shortly after the outbreak of war and are still suspended.
The entry of China into the Universal Postal Union which took effect on September 1st has brought about a reduction in the work of the General Post Office which is much appreciated. Most of the correspondence formerly sent à découvert to Hongkong for onward transmission to China and vice versa now passes through the General Post Office in closed mails entailing considerably less work on the part of the General Post Office Staff. The local rates of postage from Hongkong to China which were in existence prior to her entry into the Union are still in force and it is hoped will be maintained in the interests of the Chinese Post Office no less than the General Post Office, Hongkong.
23rd March, 1915.
E. D. C. Wolfe,
Postmaster General.