CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879 — Page 355

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of Sir Michael Hicks Beach whether, in this Lordship's opinion it might not be practicable to have uniform rates

of Postage for the Brindisi and

marssiller Konter, applicable to all the Eastern Colonies;

and, if that be not-feasible, whether there would be

any

objection to Hong Kong adopting uniform rate of postage. In reply, Lord John

Manners desires one to state for the information of War Michael Hicks Beach, that_

only the ordinary rates are accounted for to France Letters forwarded from this

Country

Country to the East by

means of the French mail Pacheto pomr marcilles, it would be contrary to the provisions

of the Postal Union Treaty, to levy

such Letters

more than the miform postage rate of fourfence. But, as special Transit rates are

paid to France and

Italy

on Letters sent to the East oin Brindisi, the postage

rate

on such letters is necessarily higher.

In Hong Kong, however, the Colony, in adopting five pence as its miniform rate which it desires to do, might

simplify