CO129-228 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [7-9] — Page 143

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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I would have been warranted in applying personally to the several Consular Officers to know their opinions on a question of this nature.

In recommending to the Imperial Post Office that the proposition should be favourably entertained, I had confined myself entirely to the view that this Government took of the proposal, and I was anxious to put Your Excellency, at the earliest possible moment, in a position to express your own views upon it. These Postal Agencies already cost the Colonial Government close on $10,000 a year, and it is doubtful whether this sum is recouped from the Postage collected. They are rapidly dropping behind the requirements of the day, yet, though this Colony has gradually more than doubled the expenditure it accepted with the control of the Agencies twenty years ago, the Imperial Post Office refuses to make any contribution towards their improvement.

If these Post Offices are to be maintained with even a semblance of efficiency, a further considerable increase of expenditure is at once and urgently called for. And it would appear that the improvement would have to be effected at the sole cost of this Colony. Besides this somewhat undesirable position, the control of these Agencies, accepted very unwillingly in the first instance, naturally exposes this Government to the representations and complaints of gentlemen to whom tasks are assigned which it is impossible they should discharge with any degree of satisfaction to themselves; to complaints from the public on matters in which this Colony can exercise no effective control; and to a number of questions in which Hong Kong is really in no way concerned.

(Signed) I St. March
Administering the Government.

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I would have been warranted in applying personally to the several Consular Officers to know their opinions on a question of this nature. In recommending to the Imperial Post Office that the proposition should be favourably entertained, I had confined myself entirely to the view that this Government took of the proposal, and I was anxious to put Your Excellency, at the earliest possible moment, in a position to express your own views upon it. These Postal Agencies already cost the Colonial Government close on $10,000 a year, and it is doubtful whether this sum is recouped from the Postage collected. They are rapidly dropping behind the requirements of the day, yet, though this Colony has gradually more than doubled the expenditure it accepted with the control of the Agencies twenty years ago, the Imperial Post Office refuses to make any contribution towards their improvement. If these Post Offices are to be maintained with even a semblance of efficiency, a further considerable increase of expenditure is at once and urgently called for. And it would appear that the improvement would have to be effected at the sole cost of this Colony. Besides this somewhat undesirable position, the control of these Agencies, accepted very unwillingly in the first instance, naturally exposes this Government to the representations and complaints of gentlemen to whom tasks are assigned which it is impossible they should discharge with any degree of satisfaction to themselves; to complaints from the public on matters in which this Colony can exercise no effective control; and to a number of questions in which Hong Kong is really in no way concerned. (Signed) I St. March Administering the Government.
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I would have been warranted in applying personally to the several Consular Officers to know their opinions on a question of this nature. In recommending mmending to the Imperial Post Office that the proposition should be favourably entertained, I had confined myself entirely to the view that this Government took of the proposal, and I was anxious to put Your Excellency, ab the earliest possible moment, in a position own views upon it. These Postal Agencies already cost the Colonial Government close on $10,000 a your to Express your year, o More and it is doubtful whether this sun is recouped from the Postage collected. They are rapidly dropping- behind the requirements of the day, yet, though this Colony has gradually than doubled the expenditure it accepted with the control of the Agencies twenty year ago, the Imperial Post= Office refuses to make any souce contribution lowards 141 towards their improvement. If there Post are to be maintained with eveu the cand Offices semblance of efficiency, a further Considerable increase of expenditure is at once and urgently called for. And it would appear that the improvement would have to be effected at the sole cost of this Colony Besides this concewhat undesirable position, the control of these Agencies, excerpted very unwillingly in the first instance, naturally expoew this Government to the representations and complaints of goutleeuen to whom tasks are assigned which it is impossible they should. discharge with any degree of satisfaction to themselves; to complaints from the public on matters in which this Colony exercise no dan effective control; and to a number of questions in which Houghing is really in no way I have to uo Concerned. (Signed) I St. March Administering the Government.
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I

would have been warranted in applying personally to the several Consular Officers to know their opinions on a question of

this nature.

In recommending

mmending to the Imperial Post Office that the proposition should be favourably entertained, I had confined myself entirely to the view that this Government took of the proposal, and I was anxious to put Your Excellency, ab the earliest possible moment, in a position

own views upon it. These Postal Agencies already cost the Colonial Government close on $10,000 a

your

to Express your

year,

o

More

and it is doubtful whether this sun is recouped from the Postage collected. They are rapidly dropping- behind the requirements of the day, yet, though this Colony has gradually than doubled the expenditure it accepted with the control of the Agencies twenty year ago, the Imperial Post= Office refuses to make any

souce

contribution

lowards

141

towards their improvement. If there Post

are to be maintained with

eveu

the

cand

Offices semblance of efficiency, a further Considerable increase of expenditure

is

at once and urgently called for. And it would appear that the improvement would have to be effected at the sole cost of this Colony

Besides this concewhat undesirable position, the control of these Agencies, excerpted very unwillingly in the first instance, naturally expoew this Government to the representations and complaints of goutleeuen to whom tasks are

assigned which it is impossible they should. discharge with any degree of satisfaction to themselves; to complaints from the public on matters in which this Colony

exercise no

dan

effective control; and to a number of questions in which Houghing is really in no way

I have to

uo

Concerned.

(Signed) I St. March

Administering the Government.

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