COPY.
Sub enclosure to Enclosure 1.
sir.
472
0.0
14250
Money Order Office,
Hongkong, 5th. January, 1901.
I most respectfully beg to bring to the notice of the Government the utter inadequacy of the present as- commodation in the Money Order Office and the insufficiency of the staff in coping with the increased work entailed on this Department, consequent on the increase of the Garrison by thres Indian Regiments, which establishment, I understand, will be maintained hereafter.
Prior to the outbreak in China the Indian portion of the Garrison consisting of the Hongkong Regiment and four companies of the Asiatic Artillery, and the Colonial Indian Police, caused no extra work to the Money Order Office as they are entitled to remit their pay through the War Office and the Treasury at the enhanced rate of Rs. 237 per $100 (whilst the current rate is Rs.155 per $100) but as this privilege has not been conceded to the new arrivals the only method of remitting to India has been through the Post Office.
It is not exaggeration to state, as can be borne out by the Local Auditor, that the work lately has more than trebled that of the same period last year. Besides the 3rd. Nadras Light Infantry, the 22nd. Bombay Infantry, and the 5th.. Hyderabad Contingent there are the staff of the Base Post Office, the Field Audit and Controller Offices, the Bass Hedical and Commissariat Departments of the China Field Force, the Bullock Siege Train (about 1,500 drivers and syces) the various native Field Hospitals and the 1st. Bengal Lancers who constantly be- siege the Money Order Office to the great inconvenience of the Public.
It is imperative that the present re- sources should be increased to meet with the existing cirouns- tances and, if you will allow me to suggest, I would ask that the new annexe to the Post Office be made into a Money Order Office where room can be found for the Postmaster-General and Accountant's Offices. This will allow the present building to be divided into halves for the Inward and Outward mail rooms, and thus obviate the necessity of having the staff scattered and out
The Acting Pastmaster-General,
of
Hongkong.
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