359
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how untenable is the idea that any increasing numerical majority of ratepayers could be allowed to render abortive the policy without which there would have been no such settlement for them to inhabit, and no rates for them to pay.
16.-The Chinese community of Hongkong moreover enjoy an amount of liberty with regard to their correspondence which probably no other Government would concede to them. They are practically allowed to send letters where they like and how they like. It is notorious that they transmit their correspondence safely, get it delivered sooner than Europeans can, and effect this at something like one fifth of foreign postal rates. They would feel a strict enforcement of the monopoly of the Post Office, such as is carried out in Saigon, and to some extent in Singapore, far more oppressive than an appropriation from the rates, and would, I believe, soon be glad to pay for the resumption of their former liberty.
very
17.-I cannot recommend either course c or d. Both perhaps are possible, but under both the most intolerable practical complications would arise. A high rate of postage (c) as between the mother country and one of its colonies could not be objected to on International grounds, and it may be said that it is the legitimate solution of the difficulty, as then those who use the mail service would be helping to pay for it.
If Hongkong were St. Helena or Ascension this view would be applicable. But let us imagine the British Post Office at Shanghai charging 30 cents on a letter to England whilst the French Post Office charged five! The French Post Office would in consequence make up the entire mail for London, and, by an almost ridiculous consequence of our Treaty obligations, the P. & O. packets would be bound to carry it!
There is no escape from this but by Great Britain's withdrawal from the Postal Union. High rates of postage, too, press heavily on the poorer class of correspondents. The same, and even greater objections apply to (d) any proposal to discontinue using the P. & O. packets, as suggested by Lord KIMBERLEY in Mr. MEADE's letter to the Treasury of August 28th, 1880.
For if the packets come here at all they certainly would be used for the homeward mails. Persons would make it their business to collect letters to be posted at Singapore, or even at home. All kinds of disorders would ensue, and it certainly would be a strange condition of affairs if the community of Shanghai, out of reach of Postal contributions, could freely use the P. & O. packets at 2d. per half ounce to any Union Country whatever, and the community of Hongkong could not use them at all. Moreover, we could not refuse to make up mails for any country except the United Kingdom by any mail steamer which might be here.
18.-And though, as Lord KIMBERLEY points out, there are numerous private steamers, by which mails might be forwarded, the discontinuance of the P. & O. service would practically throw the whole correspondence into the French Mail. However much the postage were lowered, next to nothing would be sent by slower steamers. The French Mail would take four hours to sort; I do not suppose the French Post Office would ever consent to its being sorted on board,
If it were so sorted (which may be regarded as out of the question) the expense would be very great, at least three times that of our present marine sorting. A fortnightly mail no doubt sufficed for the wants of Hongkong at one time, but the objections I have pointed out above are so strong that I do not see my way to recommending any attempt to recur to it.
(5)
19. The same obstacles which prevent our utilising private steamers to any appreciable extent would also render impracticable any attempt to forward or receive mails viâ San Francisco. If both the French and English Mail packets were withdrawn, we might no doubt get on very well with the Pacific line, but so long as the French Mails call here at all they will bring and take practically the whole of the correspondence. The California route is open to three great objections:-
(1.) Length of transit.
(2.) Uncertainty of both arrival and departure.
(3.) Uncertainty of connection at San Francisco on the outward route,
and these would always make it unavailable for business correspondence unless no better opportunities were to be had. Moreover it is doubtful if the trans-Pacific boats will run in future so frequently as they have lately.
20.-The Home Government should, I think, be asked to remember that these heavy demands, based entirely on distance, put Hongkong in a very disadvantageous position as compared with other Colonies. Our rates of Postage may be considered low when we think of what they were a few years ago, but when we observe what other countries are charging they must be pronounced high. We are, in nearly every instance, charging every farthing that the Convention of Paris will allow. The French Post Offices at Shanghai and Saigon will receive a letter for nearly any part of the world for 2d., we charge 5d. American travellers, accustomed to the universal 2d. tariff of their own country, find our postage in the opposite direction just double that amount. Our Registration fee is 5d.; few countries charge so much. And yet, in spite of all these comparatively high charges we are not to be allowed even to pay working expenses. I need hardly say that we cannot look to a reduction of charges as affording any hope of increase of Revenue. The amount of correspondence posted here remains the same or nearly so whatever changes of Tariff are made.
21.-I do not know that there is any other information I can lay before the Government on this matter. Our interests have been so well defended, and the question so thoroughly understood in the Colonial Office that there really is little further argument left for me to adduce. I venture however to suggest that the correspondence be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce before a reply is made.
I have the honour, to be, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant.
The Honourable W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
ALFRED LISTER,
Postmaster General.
359
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how untenable is the idea that any incre numerical majority of ratepayers could be allowed to render abortive the policy without which there would have been no such settlement for them to inhabit, and no rates for them to pay.
16.-The Chinese community of Hongkong moreover enjoy au amonut of liberty with regard to their correspondence which probably no other Government would concede to them. They are practically allowed to send letters where they like and how they like. It is notorious that they transmit their correspondence safely, get it delivered sooner than Europeans can, and effect this at something like one fifth of foreign postal rates. They would feel a strict enforcement of the monopoly of the Post Office, such as is carried out in Saigon, and to some extent in Singapore, far more oppressive than an appropriation from the rates, and would, I believe, soon be glad to pay for the resumption of their former liberty.
very
17.-1 cannot recommend either course c or d. Both perhaps are possible, but under both the most intolerable practical complications would arise. A high rate of postage (c) as between the mother country and one of its colonies could not be objected to on International grounds, and it may be said that it is the legitimate solution of the difficulty, as then those who use the mail service would be helping to for it.
pay If Hongkong were St. Helena or Ascension this view would be applicable. But let us imagine the British Post Office at Shanghai charging 30 cents on a letter to England whilst the French Post Office charged five! The French Post Office would in consequence make up the entire mail for London, und, by an almost Indicrous consequence of our Treaty obligations, the P. & 0. packets would be bound to carry it!
There is no escape from this but by Great Britain's withdrawal from the Postal Union. High rates of postage, too, press heavily on the poorer class of correspondents. The saine, and even greater objections apply to (d) any proposal to discontinue using the P. & O. packets, as suggested by Lord KIMBERLEY in Mr. MEADE's letter to the Treasury of August 28th, 1880.
For if the packets come here at all they certainly would be used for the homeward mails. Persons would make it their business to collect letters to be posted at Singapore, or even at home. All kinds of disorders would ensue, and it certainly would be a strange condition of affairs if the community of Shanghai, out of reach of Postal contributions, could freely use the P. & 0. packets at 24d. per half ounce to any Union Country whatever, and the community of Hongkong could not use them at all. Moreover, we could not refuse to make up mails for any country except the United Kingdom by any mail steamer which might be here.
18.--And though, as Lord KIMBERLEY points out, there are numerous private steamers, by which mails might be forwarded, the discontinuance of the P. & 0. service would practically throw the whole correspondence into the French Mail. However much the postage were lowered, next to nothing would be sent by slower steamers. The French Mail would take four hours to sort; I do not suppose the French Post Office would ever consent to its being sorted on board,
If it were so sorted (which may be regarded as out of the question) the expense would be very great, at least three times that of our present marine sorting. A fortnightly mail no doubt sufficed for the wants of Hongkong at one time, but the objections I have pointed out above are so strong that I do not see my way to recommending any attempt to recur to it.
( 5 )
19. The same obstacles which prevent our utilising private steamers to any appreciable extent would also render impracticable any attempt to forward or receive mails viâ San Francisco. If both the French and English Mail packets were withdrawn, we might no doubt get on very well with the Pacific line, but so long us the French Mails call here at all they will bring and take practically the whole of the correspondence. The California route is open to three great objections:-
(1.) Length of transit.
(2.) Uncertainty of both arrival and departure.
(3.) Uncertainty of connection at San Francisco on the outward route,
and these would always make it unavailable for business correspondence unless no better opportunities were to be had. Moreover it is doubtful if the trans-Pacific boats will run in future so frequently as they have lately,
20.-The Home Government should, I think, be asked to remember that these heavy demands, based entirely on distance, put Hongkong in a very disadvantageous position as compared with other Colonies. Our rates of Postage may be considered low when we think of what they were a few years ago, but when we observe what other countries are charging they must be pronounced high. We are, in nearly every instance, charging every farthing that the Convention of l'aris will allow. The French Post Offices at Shanghai and Saigon will receive a letter for nearly any part of the world for 24d., we charge 5d. American travellers, accustomed to the universal 2d. tariff of their own country, find our postage in the opposite direction just double that amount. Our Registration fee is 5d.; few countries charge so much. And yet, in spite of all these comparatively high charges we are not to be allowed even to pay working expenses. I need hardly say that we cannot look to a reduction of charges as affording any hope of increase of Revenue. The amount of correspondence posted here remains the same or nearly so whatever changes of Tariff are made.
21.--I do not know that there is any other information I can lay before the Government on this matter. Our interests have been so well defended, and the question so thoroughly understood in the Colonial Office that there really is little further argument left for me to adduce. I venture however to suggest that the correspondence be forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce before a reply is made.
I have the honour, to be, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant.
The Honourable W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
ALFRED LISTER,
Postmaster General.
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