CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 452

439

the only parcel post communication between China and

the outside world.

In some places in China Postal Agencies are

maintained by more than one foreign Administration

while there are other places where particular coun-

tries have the advantage; but there would, in the

opinion of the Postmaster General, be obvious objec-

tions to the adoption of the principle that a Brit-

ish Agency should be established at every place in

China at which any other foreign nation established,

an Agency.

Parcels from this Country for Ichang, Nanking,

Peking, Chinkiang (Tschinkiang), Tsinanfu, and Weih-

sien the places specially mentioned by the China

can, under the arrangements described

Association

above, be sent either by the British service to

Hong Kong, to be handed over there to the Chinese

Imperial Post Office for delivery, or via Germany

for transmission by the German service to destina-

In the first case, however, the parcels can

tion.

be insured only so long as they remain in the custody

of the British Post Office; whereas in the second

}

case they can be insured throughout their journey;

and this is practically the only reason for providing

the public with the means of sending the parcels via

Germany, which is a more expensive route than the

In the case of parcels sent via Germany 37% and 47-

S.

British one.

the rates of postage are respectively 87-,

for each parcel not exceeding 3, 7 and 11 pounds in

weight, whereas for the British Packet route the rates

5- and - if they

for similar parcels are only 1, 2

6

and 4/- if

are sent all the way by sea, and

they are conveyed across the continent of Europe by

train.

At present parcels are exchanged between the Post

Office of Hong Kong and the Chinese Imperial Post Of-

fice without any formal Agreement; but the Hong Kong

Post Office, which has been pressed to put the matter

on a better footing, has recently notified its inten-

tion of proceeding with the negotiations for an Agree-

ment when it has settled certain other questions which

have arisen with the Chinese Imperial Post Office. I am &c.,

of

(Signed)

H. Babington Smith.