CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 302

COPY.:

Enclosure No. 2 to Despatch No. 385 of the 29th.

August, 1903.

Enclosure

Mo.).

0.0.

H. B. N's. Consulate General, Tientsin, August 13th., 1902..

2

299

Sir,'

With reference to the proposed establishment

in Tientsin of a branch of the Hongkong Post Office, I have the honour to forward to you for your information the enclosed Memo- randum which I have had prepared. As you will perceive, the circumstances of Tientsin are distinctly adverse to the satisfac- tory working of such a branch. Being myself convinced of this fact, and being also aware that the sole reason for establish- ing a branch here lies in the fact that penny postage is thereby obtained, I addressed an enquiry to the Chinese Imperial Post Office at this Port in which I asked whether that Post Office would be prepared to consider the advisability of their adopting a rate for letters to Great Britain and her Colonies equivalent to the peony postage now offered by the Hongkong Post Office,

a course of action which would at once obviate the necessity for a branch Post Office at Tientsin and also at other Treaty Ports.

In reply I received a letter, copy of which I enclose, giving such an extremely practical solution of the dif- ficulty that I have no hesitation in strongly recommending its consideration by the Hongkong Post Office.

£

I would point out that should the proposed agreement between the two Post Offices become effectual, penny postage would be secured, not merely to the inhabitants of a few Treaty Ports, but to nearly every British subject in China, a consummation that is easily and cheaply secured by the sacrifice of a few small Post Offices, which under present conditions can- not be a source of profit to the Hongkong Post Office.

I have etc.,' (Sa.) G. C. Hopkins,

Consul-deneral.

b

Enclosure

No. 2.

the August, 1902.

The Postmaster-General,

Hongkong Post Office,

Hongkong.