30
X-POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.
The total revenue from the Postal Service in 1918 amounted to $427,132.88 being $23,263.01 more than that collected in 1917. The net expenditure after deducting the sum of $70,276.74 (£12,591. 5s. 0d. at 3/7 per $) refunded to this Colony by the Post Office of the United Kingdom in respect of the period 1st July, 1917, to 30th September, 1918, on account of the suspension of the P. & O. Mail Contract Service (Bombay-Shanghai Section) amounted to $156,107.69, being less than that of 1917 by $103,107.14 due to the high rate of exchange prevailing during the year under review and the refund referred to above. The balance of revenue over expenditure amounted to $271,025.19. The Bombay to Shanghai Section of the P. & O. Contract Mail Service was suspended throughout the year. Mails superscribed for the Suez route were, as a rule, forwarded from here to Bombay to connect with the home-bound P. & O. packets sailing from there. The Pacific route either via Canada or via the United States was regularly used throughout the year for the transmission of mails for Europe.
The Parcel Post Service to the United Kingdom viâ Canada was suspended as from 10th May, owing to transport difficulties in the Atlantic.
Through the courtesy of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire to whom the thanks of the Post Office Department are due facilities were granted for the exchange of direct Parcel Post Mails with the United Kingdom viâ Suez by vessels for which they are Agents.
The revenue collected in 1918 from radio-telegrams amounted to $24,011.25 being $699.70 more than that collected in 1917. Advices of vessels signalled at the Lighthouses yielded $437.00 and semaphore messages $5.35 making a total of $24,453.60 for the Telegraphic Service. The expenditure amounted to $25,100.73. The number of radio-telegrams forwarded during the year was 1,117, consisting of 108,330 words, and 1,475 received consisting of 19,243 words.
XI.-GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The outstanding event of the year was the conclusion of hostilities in Europe. In this remote Colony the effects of the war have been felt less directly than in many parts of H.M. Dominions; but Hongkong gave of her best, in money and in men of British race, and at least she has no reason to feel ashamed of the small but steadfast part which she played in the great adventure.
The world-wide dearth of shipping for mercantile purposes had a marked effect upon the trade of the Colony, which is so entirely dependent upon ships for its prosperity. Trade with the United Kingdom was much reduced in volume, but the trade routes across the Pacific Ocean were well supplied by Japanese vessels, and markets which had formerly taken British goods turned towards America and Japan.