CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900 — Page 253

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The Colonial Postmaster General states that four

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persons (2 sorters and 2 stampers) are now required to deal

with the Hong Kong and China mails on board the Packets,

and asks that the matter may be arranged with the Steamship

Company. The Postmaster General is willing to approach

the Company on the subject; but he desires to point out

the improbability that they will agree to carry four persons,

instead of the one contemplated in the contract, without

an increased subsidy. Such increase would no doubt have to

be met out of the Colonial revenue, as the expense is not

such as could properly be borne by this Department. On

the other hand,to draw the attention of the Peninsular

and Oriental Company to the seasorting arrangements without

coming to a definite agreement with them would be to run

the risk of a withdrawal of the advantages, which the Hong

Kong Post Office now enjoys beyond what is stipulated

for in the Contract and probably also of the similar

advantages which are said to be enjoyed by the Post Office

of the Straits Settlements.

I am to ask that the Secretary of State will be

good