NOTE ON THE BRITISH POSTAL AGENCIES.
In 1842 Hongkong was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Nanking and at the same time Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai and Ningpo were declared open to trade.
Soon after the cession a Post Office was established at Hongkong under the jurisdiction of the London Post Office. The Colonial Government had no interest either in the management or finance of the Hongkong Posts.
During the first year of the Colony's existence there were less than three Postmasters. In 1843 Mr. F. Spring our 4th Postmaster was appointed and held the office for 17 years.
There were at this time no postal facilities of any description for foreigners in China. When the five ports mentioned above were opened to trade and Consular Officers had been appointed Postal Agencies grew up in the Consulates.
The records are very imperfect during this early period and it is difficult to find out exactly how the Consular Agencies were established. I imagine that like Topsy they simply "growed", the Consular Assistant when he had nothing better to do, consented to send off certain letters for friends. The postal business during this period was in any event very small.
At any rate, however the Postal Agencies may have come into being, before 1860 the following places were recognised as Agencies of the Hongkong Posts, which were then under London control. That is :--
Canton Amoy
Foochow
Shanghai Ningpo Yokohama
Nagasaki
There were also unrecognised Agencies—that is Agencies to which no payments were made at Hyogo (better known to us as Kobe) at Bangkok and at Macau.
The year 1860 is an important date. In this year the Hongkong Post Office was handed over by the Imperial Authorities to the Colonial Government. It is a curious fact that this change was in opposition to the wishes of the local Government. It is difficult to imagine that to-day the local Government would wish any of its utility branches to be controlled by persons in London.
When the Post Office was handed over to the Colonial Authorities no one seems to have considered the question of making provision for the Agencies.
R
NOTE ON THE BRITISH POSTAL AGENCIES. ·
In 1842 Hongkong was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Nauking and at the same time Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai and Ningpo were declared open to trade.
Soon after the cession a Post Office was established at Hongkong under the jurisdiction of the Loudon Post Office. The Colonial Government had no interest either in the management or finance of the Hongkong Posts.
During the first year of the Colony's existence there were less than three Postmasters. In 1843 Mr. F. Spring our 4th Postmaster was appointed and held the office for 17 years.
There were at this time no postal facilities of any description for foreigners in China. When the five ports mentioned above were opened to trade and Consular Officers had been appointed Postal Agencies grew up in the Consulates.
The records are very imperfect during this early period and it is difficult to find out exactly how the Consular Agencies were established. I imagine that like Topsy they simply "growed", the Consular Assistant when he had nothing better to do, consented to send off certain letters for friends. The postal business during this period was in any event very small.
At any rate, however the Postal Agencies may have come into being, before 1860 the following places were recognised as Agencies of the Hongkong Posts, which were then under London control. That is :--
Canton Amoy
Foochow
Shanghai Ningpo Yokohama
Nagasaki
There were also unrecognised Agencies-that is Agencies to which no payınents were made at Hyogo (better known to us as Kobe) at Bangkok and at Macau.
The year 1860 is an important date. In this year the Hongkong Post Office was handed over by the Imperial Authorities to the Colonial Government. It is a curious fact that this change was in opposition to the wishes of the local Government. It is difficult to imagine that to-day the local Government would wish any of its utility branches to be controlled by persons in London.
When the Post Office was handed over to the Colonial Authorities no one seems to have considered the question of making provision for the Agencies.
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