CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8] — Page 600

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

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597

The despatch ends with a threat that if this further condition is not complied with to seek other and more favourable terms from other Administrations which could not fail to be detrimental to Hong Kong Postal interests.

Article XVII which permits union countries to enter into partial union with countries outside the Union expressly reserves the right of transmitting "closed mails" only if the offices of origin and destination consent with the assent of the intermediate office. It is recommended therefore that that portion of letter No.272 dated 28th May be withdrawn. To obtain the consent of all the various administrations concerned would entail long and tedious correspondence, a consent that in a great majority of cases would certainly be refused.

The retaliatory threat need not be considered. Hong Kong is the intermediary office for the bulk of China's mails and would always have the right of veto with regard to closed mails with whatever country of the union China might enter into relations. Take Japan for instance. By Article XVII Section 5, our consent would be a condition precedent before Japan could forward closed mails for China, as consent would

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120 597 The despatch ends with a threat that if this further condition is not complied with to seek other and more favourable terms from other Administrations which could not fail to be detrimental to Hong Kong Postal interests. 11 Article XVII which permits union countries to enter into partial union with countries outside the Union expressly reserves the right of transmitting "closed mails" only if the offices of origin and destination consent with the assent of the intermediate office. It is recommended therefore that that portion of letter No.272 dated 28th May be withdrawn. To obtain the consent of all the various administrations concerned would entail long and tedious correspondence, a consent that in a great majority of cases would certainly be refused. The retaliatory threat need not be considered. Hong Kong is the intermediary office for the bulk of China's mails and would always have the right of veto with regard to closed mails with whatever country of the union China might enter into relations. Take Japan for instance. By Article XVII Section 5, our consent would be a condition precedent before Japan could forward closed mails for China, as consent would Page 600 Page 601

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120 597 The despatch ends with a threat that if this further condition tf is not complied with to seek other and more favourable terms" from other Administrations which could not fail to be detri- # "mental to HongKong Postal interests. 11 Article XV11 which permits union countries to enter into partial union with countries outside the Union expressly reserves the right of transmitting "closed mails only if the offices of origin and destination consent with the assent of the inter- # mediate office it is recommended therefore that that portion , of letter No.272 dated 28th. May be withdrawn to obtain the con- sent of all the various administrations concerned would entail long and tedious correspondence. Consent that in a great majority of cases would certainly be refused. The retaliatory threat need not be considered HongKong is the intermediary office for the . bulk of China's mails and would always have the right of veto with regard to close mails with whatever country of the union China might enter into relations. Take Japan for instance by Article XV11 Section 5 our consent would be a condition prece- dent before Japan could forward closed mails for China as consent would Page 600Page 601

2026-05-31 06:02:17 · Baseline

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120

597

The despatch ends with a threat that if this further condition

is not complied with to seek other and more favourable terms"

from other Administrations

which could not fail to be detri-

"mental to HongKong Postal interests.

Article XV11 which permits union countries to enter into partial

union with countries outside the Union expressly reserves the

right of transmitting "closed mails only if the offices of

origin and destination consent with the assent of the inter-

mediate office it is recommended therefore that that portion

of letter No.272 dated 28th. May be withdrawn to obtain the con-

sent of all the various administrations concerned would entail

long and tedious correspondence. Consent that in a great majority

of cases would certainly be refused. The retaliatory threat need

not be considered HongKong is the intermediary office for the

bulk of China's mails and would always have the right of veto

with regard to close mails with whatever country of the union

China might enter into relations. Take Japan for instance by

Article XV11 Section 5 our consent would be a condition prece-

dent before Japan could forward closed mails for China as consent

would

Page 600Page 601

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