CO129-148 - Public Offices & Others - 1870 — Page 155

gross total of letters is about 18.100, producing

postage of £1,155

a

Considering that the present Packet

service between this fountry and

China

and Japan already

involves

a clear

loss

of

£ 33,000 a year,

which is

borne exclusively by the Imperial Government, and that the establishment

of a branch line between Hong Kong Toochow would considerably augment · that loss, the Postmaster General is

and

not prepared to entertain the proposal;

and His Lordship requests that:

be good enough to inform

Granville accordingly.

you Lord

will

At the same time, His Lordship

desires me to remark that it is evident,

both from the letter of the fhamber of Commerce and from the report of M

M!

Mitchell

154

Mitchell that the advantage sought is wholly to enable the merchants of Hong Kong to obtain their letters from Foochow in time to transact exchange and other business before the departure of the homeward English Mail ; and, such being the case,

case, Lord Hartington has little doubt that barl Granville will agree.

with him in the

opinion that the fiends necessary for affording the desired accomodation should be provided by the community of Honghong and not by the public of this fountry.

I am,

Sir

Your most obedient Servant,

Win Willen