CO129-300 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [7-9] — Page 334

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3. As regards the British Postal Agency at Liu

Kun Tao, existing as it does solely for the benefit of the Na

val and Military Authorities there, I venture to submit that

if it is to lead to this Government being called upon to in-

crease its contribution to the General Mail service, it will

be more advantageous to the Colony that the carrying on of

this agency should cease. The island could be fully served by

the Post Office already established at Wei hai wei under the

direction of the Chinese Imperial Customs.

4. The comparatively small value to this Colony

of the mail matter from the North, combined with the threatened

increased cost, and the fact that owing to the number of steam-

ers running to and from the Northern Ports, this Colony is

quite independent of the P. & 0. Company's steamers, would

justify the contention that the subsidised Mail service should

not be carried beyond Hong-Kong. The attached statement shows

that there are no less than 28 lines of steamers, running an

average of 48 ships per month, in regular communication with

the North,exclusive of the P. & 0. Company's Mail steamers, all

of which are available for forwarding correspondence to the

various Ports in China.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient

Humble Servant,

Henry Arabe

GOVERNOR,&C.