CO129-315 - Public Offices & Others - 1902 — Page 148

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intermediate Offices for the exchange of correspondence between

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China and Postal Union countries. From time to time various

steps have been taken towards the conclusion of a Postal

Convention between the Imperial Chinese Post Office and the

Post Office of Hong Kong; but up to the present time no agree-

ment has been arrived at. Under Postal Union regulations Hong

Kong would have to act as the Office of entry in the Union of

correspondence forwarded by the Chinese Post Office, and, so

far as correspondence sent unenclosed for incorporation in its

own mails is concerned, would be accountable to other

Administrations of the Postal Union (including this Office)

for the sea and land transit payments. It is therefore,

essential before any agreement with Sir Robert Hart is possible

that the Chinese and the Hong Kong Post Offices should settle the

conditions under which Hong Kong can receive the correspondence

prepaid in Chinese stamps, mix it with its own, and forward it to

destination. For the correspondence despatched by the Chinese

Post Office in closed mails the intermediary service of Hong

Kong would also be needed to a limited extent.

With respect to the concessions for which Sir Robert Hart

asks, it may perhaps be presumed that the condition that the

British Agencies shall not do business inland does not

extend to the exchange of correspondence by sea between the

Treaty Ports. If it does, the Hong Kong revenue might be

adversely affected.

The second condition, providing for closing or retaining

British agencies in China, as the case may be, makes no

provision for opening new agencies. Not long ago, however,

Sir E. Satow was disposed to recommend the opening of a new

agency at Tientsin; and, as is announced in the Colonial

Office letter now under reply, the Secretary of State is

about to authorize a new agency at Chefoo. In this

connexion I am to forward a copy of a letter which has been

received from the Acting Postmaster General of Hong Kong, and

to ask if the Secretary of State desires it to be acted

upon.

Perhaps the Secretary of State might think it worth while

to ascertain whether Sir Robert Hart's proposals would remain

With

open

5.