# S.MISCELLANEOUS.
During the early part of the year Mr. Santa Barbara, the Inspector of Portuguese Posts, visited the Colony and a complete postal agreement between the Province of Macau and Hongkong was drawn up and signed. This agreement, which among other things, provides for the exchange of Cash on Delivery Parcels, came into force on 1st September.
In May M. Picard Destelan, the Co-Director General of Chinese Posts, deputed two officers of the Chinese Posts—Messrs. Shields and Paullain—to come to Hongkong and discuss various matters in which Hongkong and the Chinese Posts were mutually interested. Very pleasant conferences were held and it is hoped that similar discussions may take place in the future.
The Shanghai-Bombay Section of the P. & O. Contract Mail Service was suspended as from 1st July. The mails for Europe, viâ Suez, were forwarded as opportunities offered to Bombay for transmission from thence to England by P. & O. packets.
Owing to dislocation and uncertainty of the trans-Siberian Railways and the restriction of the Suez route, the mails for Europe were to a great extent forwarded by the Pacific route either via Canada or via the United States.
Arrangements were made during the year with the Canadian Postal Administration for the transmission of Parcels for Europe by Canadian Services. The first Parcel Mail for Liverpool by this route was despatched on 8th November by the Empress of Japan. This service, although more expensive than via Suez, is very much appreciated by the public who are using it to an increasing extent.
On the 7th August the privilege of free postage was granted to all troops in the Command.
During the period 7th August to 31st December 73,378 letters, 2,082 post cards, and 2,289 other articles were posted free.
The loss to the Postal Revenue was $3,064.18.
The Post Office Staff worked under great disadvantages. They were short-handed and the uncertainty as to the times at which mails from Europe might arrive gave them little time in which they could be certain that they might not be called up for extra duty. The Staff in my opinion deserves great praise for the way in which they have worked with cheerfulness for long hours.
20th April, 1918.
S. B. C. Ross, Postmaster General.