CO129-304 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [1-4] — Page 183

$5,40

OUMY

R-30

C.0.

9260 179

01

Seneral Fost affic Hängkong.

1st. February 1901

sir,

*.

b

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter

4o. 519884 of the 31st. Vecember 1900, asking to be furnished with certain

information on the matter reported by me relative to the sale of, postage

stamps by the French and German Post. ffices at Shanghai, at prices lower

than their face value,`

berezita beg leave to hand you a copy of the reply, received,

by me from the 4. 5. 4. Postmaster at Shanghai, to the questions whica

you asked in your letter, now; under reply. venture to think that the.

information now; given will bear out. the original statement, made as to toe

Offices named undoubtedly underselling the British rost. Office.

If I may be allowed, i would also like to point out the

following facts as regards the rates of exchange at. Joangasi.

The market. rate for French money is Francs 3.58 to the Dollar

(SX), which would represent. 104 postal union rates of 25 centimes each

-the equivalent of the Hongkong 10 cents whereas the French rost. Vffid

by treating the Vollar as equivalent: to: Francs 3. thereby allow 12 rates

to. be prepaid by a vollar. Similarly, the German rite of exchange, Marks

2.984 pfen. to the. Voller would represent: 10 postel union rates, but

as a matter of fact, by their treating the Dollar as equivalent. to marks 2

50 pfen. they thereby allow: 124 postal union rates to be prepaid by &

voilar.

It is very important that these Wffices, should cease to

undersell the british rost. Office, and, i would suggest. that they should

be required to sell 10 stamps, of the equivalent of the dongkong.10 ceats,

to the Voller, and no more in the future."

The Secretary

London,

1 am, dtc."

(gd) . Voraezall Levis

Acting Postmaster deneral.