CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 694

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Rece General Fost office DEC OF!

Hongkong, 4th. November, 1903.

The Honourable

I have the honour to inform you that in

accordance with instruction I visited Wei-hai-wel.

2.

The present Fostal arrangements which I

have investigated and discussed with his Honour the Commissioner,

are as follows:- On the Island of Liu Kung Tau, there is an Agency

of this Administration, which deals with all matter from the

Eritish Fost Office from Shanghai, and forwards mails to it.

There is also a branch of the Imperial Chinese Fost Office on the

Island, and one in Fort Edward, and one in the Chinese City.

Through these, all letters for China pass, and owing to the ar-

rangement with the French Fostal Administration, letters for

Europe can be sent through the Imperial Chinese Fost Office via

Siberia. I understand that in practice the existing system works

well and meets ail present public requirements.

3.

It seems anomalous that a foreign Fost Office

should function in a British Dependency, and offer advantages,

which the British Agency is not in a position to do. The Com-

missioner, I believe, is of opinion, as I am myself, that it

would be well for the Liu Kung Tau Agency to open a branch in Fort

Edward, and to close the Imperial Chinese Fost Office in both

places, and handle all mails which reach the Dependency.

4.

An arrangement would have to be made with

the Imperial Chinese Fost Office that letters to and from the

interior, should be handled by the Imperial Chinese Fost Office

in the City, and mails from the Imperial Chinese fost Office Shanghai, or elsewhere, could be handed over by the British Fost Office

The Colonial Secretary.