CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12] — Page 527

523

:

own Oninion is that

us advantage from such a step will recrue to the Colony iufficient to comxensate

the trouble and

have

rucnonsibility thrown upon the beal youremment, but I Care in doubt that dir Sohn Bowing his return will forward his own views on the subject. -

I have the hour to be, With the highest resect

Ji yourMost obedient

Humbleseronut,

Baie

to G. P. Office saye

M. Mervale

shal

forscarded. Afz / Teb!

Mn 75

unner.

That as so

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.

EXTRACT FROM VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS. "Friday 8th October."

"The Governor recommended that a Committee, consisting of the Acting Colonial Secretary and two non-Official Members of this Council, should be appointed to report the conditions upon which the Colonial Government might properly take charge of the Post Office at Hongkong.

"Whereupon, it was moved by the Chief Magistrate, and seconded by the Surveyor General, that Mr Jardine and Mr Lyall, with the Acting Colonial Secretary, be appointed a Committee to report the Conditions upon which the Colonial Government might properly take charge of the Post Office at Hongkong.

"Mr Lyall objecting to his nomination on the ground that he had already served in the recent Caldwell Inquiry Commission, which had

absorbed much of his time;—

"It was moved by the Chief Magistrate, seconded by the Surveyor General, and unanimously agreed to,-that Mr Lyall be excused;

and that such Committee do consist of the Acting Colonial Secretary, Mr Jardine, and Mr Dent."

Your Committee having met, pursuant to the above Resolution, on the 8th and 21st of October, and on the 1st ultimo, and having had before them the correspondence enumerated in the margin which passed in 1855, between the Post-Master General in England, the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Colonial Department, with regard to the transfer of the Hongkong Post- Office from Imperial to Local control.

Your Committee have now to report to Your Excellency and Council, that after a careful consideration of the arrangement proposed, in July 1855, by the Post-Master General (Lord Canning), they are of opinion that the Government of Hongkong-upon assuming the control of the Post-Office here--would only be entitled "to One Penny, out of the uniform rate of Sixpence, per Single "Letter, which is now charged upon Colonial Correspondence to and from the United Kingdom, and on the other hand that this "Colony would be required to bear all the expenses of its Post-Office, now defrayed by the General Post-Office in England."

And your Committee have ascertained from the Acting Post-Master at Hongkong, that One Penny per Single Letter to and from the United Kingdom, would only yield a Revenue of £816.11.9 per Annum, whereas the maintenance of the Post-Office amounts to £3,505 per Annum, shewing thereby a clear loss to the Colony of £2,688.8.3 if the proposal of the Post-Master General were enter-

tained.

Under these circumstances, as stated above, your Committee have to certify to your Excellency and Council, against the proposed transfer of the Post-Office at Hongkong from Imperial to Local control.

But your Committee, anxious, if possible, to meet the views of the Home Authorities, would beg to submit that the concessions

by the General Post Office in England, of

(1.) A One Penny rate to the Local Government on all Letters to and from England.

(2.) A One Penny rate on all Foreign Letters to and from Hongkong, passing through England,

(3.) A One Penny rate on all Letters to and from India by the Contract Mail Packets.

(4.) Together with the abandonment to the Local Treasury of the full l'ostage on all Ship Letters, as well as on those to and

from the Consular Ports; and.

(5.) Of all Fees on "Late Letters."

Your Committee have to remark that these concessions might have induced your Committee to report less unfavorably upon the contemplated transfer.

Your Committee would therefore suggest, that a Despatch embodying the above proposals be submitted, with the concurrence of Your Excellency and Council, for the consideration of the Home Government.

In conclusion, your Committee would beg to state for the information of Your Excellency and Council, that in arriving at these opinions, every assistance and information they could desire has been afforded them by the Acting Post Master at Hongkong.

* 14th July, 17th October, and 27th August 1855.

11th December 1858

FRED, FORTII J. JARDINE. JOIN DENT.

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