In 1903 an agency was opened at Chefoo, and unlike our other agencies, Chefoo was not run by a Consular Officer but by Messrs. Curtis Brothers, well known merchants in that Port.
In 1906, the Tientsin Agency which had been withdrawn in 1890 was re-opened and placed under the charge of the Kailan Mining Corporation. It is a curious fact, that although France, Japan, Germany and Russia, all had agencies in Peking, we never had a British Postal Agency in the Capital of the country.
In 1902 the four cent Empire rate which had been adopted by Hongkong in 1898, was extended to the Agencies. There can I think be no doubt that this was a very great mistake, and was the direct cause of the transfer of the Agencies to the control of the London Post Office in 1911. Up to the year 1902 the agencies had paid their way. Shortly after the four cent rate had been extended to the agencies the Siberian Route was used for the transport of agency letters to Europe. All four cent letters were carried by this route at a loss. This loss had to be made good by Hongkong and it could not be argued with any show of reason that Hongkong should pay money in order that people at Shanghai and other places in China, many of whom were not even British subjects, should be able to send letters at a cheap rate to England and other parts of the Empire.
Not only were the Agencies carried on at a loss, but 20% of all the revenue collected had to be paid over as military contribution. It appears a little grotesque that the postal revenue of places like Hankow and Ningpo where there was no military protection of any sort whatever, should have to pay military contribution, but such was the ruling. Sir Frederick Lugard took up the question vigorously and after a long struggle all the agencies were handed over to the London Post Office on January 1st, 1911.
London being many thousand miles away, it was quite impossible for any one in that office to attend to the countless little questions of discipline and office routine. The Hongkong Postmaster was therefore placed in charge as manager for London. After fifty years the same objectionable system of dual control was re-established which had been found unworkable in 1860. The chief feature of the new system was of course the immense delay in the settlement of all questions which the Postmaster could not settle here out of hand.
From the year 1862 until 1917 the stamps used in the Agencies were Hongkong Stamps without any distinguishing mark. 1917 Hongkong Stamps overprinted "China" were introduced.
In accordance with stipulations entered into at Washington, all British Agencies in China were closed on November 30th, 1922. The withdrawal of the agencies was much regretted by the British Communities in China. This feeling of regret will it is hoped be some small recompense to the Agents for the work they performed.
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Page 676
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In 1903 an agency was opened at Chefoo, and unlike our other agencies, Chefoo was not run by a Consular Officer but by Messrs. Curtis Brothers, well known merchants in that Port.
In 1906, the Tientsin Agency which had been withdrawn in 1890 was re-opened and placed under the charge of the Kailan Mining Corporation. It is a curios fact, that although France, Japan, Germany and Russia, all had agencies in Peking, we never had a British Postal Agency in the Capital of the country.
In 1902 the four cent Empire rate which had been adopted by Hongkong in 1898, was extended to the Agencies. There can I think be no doubt that this was a very great mistake, and was the direct cause of the transfer of the Agencies to the control of the London Post Office in 1911. Up to the year 1902 the agencies had paid their way. Shortly after the four cent rate had been extended to the agencies the Siberian Route was used for the transport of agency letters to Europe. All four cent letters were carried by this route at a loss. This loss had to be made good by Hongkong and it could not be argued with any show of reason that Hongkong should pay money in order that people at Shanghai and other places in China, many of whom were not even British subjects, should be able to send letters at a cheap rate to England and other parts of the Empire.
Not only were the Agencies carried on at a loss, but 20% of all the revenue collected had to be paid over as military contribution. It appears a little grotesque that the postal revenue of places like Hankow and Ningpo where there was no military protection of any sort whatever, should have to pay military contribution, but such was the ruling. Sir Frederick Lugard took up the question vigorously and after a long struggle all the agencies were handed over to the London Post Office on January 1st, 1911.
London being many thousand miles away, it was quite im- possible for any one in that office to attend to the countless little questions of discipline and office routine. The Hongkong Post- master was therefore placed in charge as manager for London. After fifty years the same objectionable system of dual control was re-established which had been found unworkable in 1860. The chief feature of the new system was of course the immense delay in the settlement of all questions which the Postmaster could not settle here out of hand.
In
From the year 1862 until 1917 the stamps used in the Agencies were Hongkong Stamps without any distinguishing mark. 1917 Hongkong Stamps overprinted "China were introduced.
In accordance with stipulations entered into at Washington, all British Agencies in China were closed on November 30th, 1922. The withdrawal of the agencies was inuch regretted by the British Communities in China. This feeling of regret will it is hoped be some small recompense to the Agents for the work they perform-
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