CO129-124 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [8-9] — Page 73

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Excellency the Governor; I beg that you will point out to him that instead of adopting the suggestions made by Mr. Barnes, the United States Mail Agent, the Royal Office shall be at liberty to collect its own postage upon correspondence dispatched. The Postmaster of Washington prefers to fix the rates of postage to be levied by each dispatching Office. He has fixed ten cents as the rates to be collected for the United States for each half-ounce letter, and two cents for each Newspaper or Price Current dispatched from the United States to China, leaving the Colonial Governments to fix the rate to be collected upon correspondence sent in the opposite direction, and in so doing he has suggested a reduction in the ordinary postage on letters posted here, which is eight cents per half-ounce.

With reference to this suggestion, I would beg to point out that I cannot advise any reduction in the rates of eight cents per half-ounce letter, because, in the first place, eight cents is the uniform sea rate of charge on all letters sent from Hong Kong to places in China, Japan, and India, and it would be inconvenient to establish varying rates; and secondly, because this Office has to pay four cents on each letter sent to or brought from its dependent Ports. Under these circumstances, I would recommend His Excellency the Governor to fix the rate upon all letters sent hence to the United States by the Pacific Mail Packets at eight cents per half-ounce, and two cents for each Newspaper or Price Current.

It is, of course, understood that the amount paid on dispatch will cover the whole postage to destination, and that no charge will be made by either Office on delivery of the correspondence.

The Postmaster General at Washington proposes...

Page 66

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Excellency the Governor; I beg that you will point out to him that instead of adopting the suggestions made by Mr. Barnes, the United States Mail Agent, the Royal Office shall be at liberty to collect its own postage upon correspondence dispatched. The Postmaster of Washington prefers to fix the rates of postage to be levied by each dispatching Office. He has fixed ten cents as the rates to be collected for the United States for each half-ounce letter, and two cents for each Newspaper or Price Current dispatched from the United States to China, leaving the Colonial Governments to fix the rate to be collected upon correspondence sent in the opposite direction, and in so doing he has suggested a reduction in the ordinary postage on letters posted here, which is eight cents per half-ounce. With reference to this suggestion, I would beg to point out that I cannot advise any reduction in the rates of eight cents per half-ounce letter, because, in the first place, eight cents is the uniform sea rate of charge on all letters sent from Hong Kong to places in China, Japan, and India, and it would be inconvenient to establish varying rates; and secondly, because this Office has to pay four cents on each letter sent to or brought from its dependent Ports. Under these circumstances, I would recommend His Excellency the Governor to fix the rate upon all letters sent hence to the United States by the Pacific Mail Packets at eight cents per half-ounce, and two cents for each Newspaper or Price Current. It is, of course, understood that the amount paid on dispatch will cover the whole postage to destination, and that no charge will be made by either Office on delivery of the correspondence. The Postmaster General at Washington proposes... Page 66
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Її ati Excellency the forrner; beg that you will point set to hew that instead of adopting the suggestions made by Mr barries, the United States Mail Agent, theat rack Office shall be t liberty to collect it's own postage upon ~ cottropondence dispatched, the Portinaster of ashingtow prefers to five th the rates of postage ratio to be levied by each dispatching Office. Be has fixed tew cento as the rates to be collected fie the Sluited States for each half ounce letters and two cento for each Newspaper or Price Current dispatched from the Guited States to China, leaving the Colonial Governments to five the rate to be collected whow comepondencs in sent in the opposite direction, and in so doring he has sugacoted a reduction in the ordinary portage whow letters posted here, which is eight cents per half ounce! Witte reference to this suggestion I would beg to point out that I cannot advise any reduction } 66 per half reduction in the rates of rights cento ounce letter, because, in the first place right: cents is the reniform sea rate of charger whow all letters sent from Houyting to places in from bluna, Japan, and Judia, and it would be inconvenient to establish varying rates, and/ secondly because thris Office has to pay four cents whow each letter sent to of brought from its dependent Ports. Under these circumstances: I would recommend His Excellency the Gyvunus fix the rate upon all letters sent heuser to the Elected States by the Pacific Mark Packets at eight cents per half aunce, and two auto for each Newrpaper of Price Currents cento من تارک 3 of co course understood that the amount paid on dispatch will cover the whole postage to destination, and theat no charge will be made by either Office on delivery of the correspondences. The Antimacter General at Washingtow proposes
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Excellency the forrner; beg that you will point set to hew that instead of adopting the suggestions made by Mr barries, the United States Mail Agent, theat rack Office shall be t liberty to collect it's own postage upon ~ cottropondence dispatched, the Portinaster of ashingtow prefers to five th

the rates of postage

ratio to be levied by each dispatching Office. Be has fixed tew cento as the rates to be collected fie the Sluited States for each half ounce letters

and two cento for each Newspaper or Price Current dispatched from the Guited States to China, leaving the Colonial Governments to five the rate to be collected whow comepondencs

in

sent in the opposite direction, and in so

doring he has sugacoted a reduction in the ordinary portage whow letters posted here, which is eight cents per half

ounce!

Witte reference to this suggestion I would beg to point out that I cannot advise any

reduction

}

66

per half

reduction in the rates of rights cento ounce letter, because, in the first place right: cents is the reniform sea rate of charger whow all letters sent from Houyting to places in

from bluna, Japan, and Judia, and it would be inconvenient to establish varying rates, and/ secondly

because thris Office has to pay four

cents whow each letter sent to of

brought from its dependent Ports. Under these circumstances: I would recommend His Excellency the Gyvunus

fix the rate upon all letters sent heuser to the Elected States by the Pacific Mark Packets at eight cents per half aunce, and two auto for each Newrpaper of Price Currents

cento

من تارک

3 of co

course understood that the amount paid on dispatch will cover the whole

postage to destination, and theat no charge will be made by either Office on delivery of the correspondences.

The Antimacter General at Washingtow

proposes

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