R 8
In 1861 the Colonial Secretary writing to Mr. Meadows the Consul at Shanghai says "Upon the transfer of the Hongkong Post Office to the Colony in opposition to the wishes of the local Government the question as to the Agencies at the Ports was referred to the Home Government with an intimation that at all events the management and expense of these could not be forced upon the Colony". (Letter of 1st October, 1861).
A curious sort of conflict took place in 1861. Agencies had so far been housed in Consulates and managed by Consular Officials. Of all these Agencies there can be little doubt that Shanghai had the most business and was by far the most important. In July, 1861, the Consul at Shanghai, Mr. Meadows, ordered his Assistant to desist from all postal labours. This decision was not communicated to Hongkong in time for any one to make arrangements for the reception of mail at Shanghai. Mails were sent up in the usual way and no one in Shanghai could open the "boxes" in which they were contained. After a haggle of two days the senior British Naval Officer and the Consul met together and authorised the Peninsular and Oriental Agent to open the box. A protest was sent to Hongkong by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and the answer was that Hongkong did not wish to have anything to do with these matters and that the Governor was of opinion that Shanghai people did not really mind if they had a post office or not.
After a considerable amount of correspondence in which it was pointed out that Shanghai people did want a post office, for if they had none, those who had no Agents in Hongkong could neither receive nor send any letters, the Hongkong Government appointed a Corporal in the 44th Regiment to go to Shanghai as Postal Agent. In this way the Shanghai Agency was severed from the Consulate. In all other of the old Agencies a Consular Officer has always remained in Charge.
In 1862 postage stamps were introduced into Hongkong and these stamps were used at the Agencies.
In 1858 Chefoo, Hankow, Hoihow and Swatow were opened to trade and Tientsin was declared open to trade in 1860.
A Postal Agency was established at Swatow. I have been unable to discover the exact date but it was recognised as an Agency before 1866. Agencies were not at once established in the other Ports mentioned above which had been opened to trade.
After 1860 the conditions at the Agencies must have been very unsatisfactory. It was decided that the London Post Office would pay all salaries and the Hongkong Post Office all incidental and other expenses and that the Hongkong Postmaster would be in charge. It is always difficult for a man to be in charge if he does not pay the men who are under his charge and if it is doubtful to what extent he may reward, reprimand or punish.
R 8
In 1861 the Colonial Secretary writing to Mr. Meadows the Consul at Shanghai says "Upon the transfer of the Hongkong Post Office to the Colony in opposition to the wishes of the local Government the question as to the Agencies at the Ports was referred to the Home Government with an intimation that at all events the management and expense of these could not be forced upon the Colony". (Letter of 1st October, 1861).
A curious sort of conflict took place in 1861. Agencies had so far been housed in Consulates and managed by Consular Officials. Of all these Agencies there can be little doubt that Shanghai had the most business and was by far the most important. In July, 1861, the Consul at Shanghai, Mr. Meadows, ordered his Assistant to desist from all postal labours. This decision was not communicated to Hongkong in time for any one to make arrangements for the reception of mail at Shanghai. Mails were sent up in the usual way and no one in Shanghai could open the "boxes" in which they were contained. After a haggle of two days the senior British Naval Officer and the Consul met together and authorised the Peninsular and Oriental Agent to open the box. A protest was sent to Hongkong by the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and the answer was that Hongkong did not wish to have anything to do with these matters and that the Governor was of opinion that Shanghai people did not really mind if they had a post office or not.
After a considerable amount of correspondence in which it was pointed out that Shanghai people did want a post office, for if they had none, those who had no Agents in Hongkong could neither receive nor send any letters, the Hongkong Government appointed a Corporal in the 44th Regiment to go to Shanghai as Postal Agent. In this way the Shanghai Agency was severed from the Consulate. In all other of the old Agencies a Consular Officer has always remained in Charge.
In 1862 postage stamps were introduced into Hongkong and these stamps were used at the Agencies.
In 1858 Chefoo, Hankow, Hoihow and Statow were opened to trade and Tientsin was declared open to trade in 1860.
A Postal Agency was established at Swatow. I have been unable to discover the exact date but it was recognised as an Agency before 1866. Agencies were not at once established in the other Ports mentioned above which had been opened to trade.
After 1860 the conditions at the Agencies must have been very unsatisfactory. It was decided that the London Post Office would pay all salaries and the Hongkong Post Office all incidental and other expenses and that the Hongkong Postmaster would be in charge. It is always difficult for a man to be in charge if he does not pay the men who are under his charge and if it is doubtful to what extent he may reward, reprimand or punish.
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