CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7] — Page 289

CONFIDENTIAL.

Hongkong.

Government House.

29956

-288

REG 25 AUG 04)

Hongkong, 25th. July, 1904.

Sir,

1-795 Eastern

I have the honour to acknowledge the re-

ceipt of your Confidential Despatch of 20th. May enclosing

copies of correspondence which has passed between the Treasury

and General Post Office in connection with the contributions

of the Eastern Colonies to the cost of the Mail Service.

2.

I observe with pleasure that it has been

decided to submit the matter to arbitration and I concur in

Your view as to the advisability of briefing Counsel to lay

the case for the Colonies before the Arbitrator.

3.

With regard to paragraph 3, I have no

amendments to suggest in the draft case. The figures relating

to this Colony have been verified and would appear to be cor-

rect. The total amount paid by Hongkong for the carriage of

parcels despatched from Hongkong to London was £482 14 8.

With reference to paragraph 12 of the

draft case, I would observe that mails are transshipped at this

port for the Philippine Islands and for Japan, but I am doubt-

ful whether it is necessary to rely on this point in the case

4.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,

EcC •*

800.

80...

which