CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11] — Page 271

!

t

}

208

سیری مین کی

-30858

agree to the discontinuance of the Tientsin Agency, but

you hoped to telegraph suggestions for meeting the

difficulty in a few days. I ɛtill await Your Lordship'e

telegram. I would respectfully point out that this Agency

could not be understood to be included with those which

this Government undertook to continue in my telegram of

September 13th., since it stands on an entirely separate

basis.

6.

Low 18637

In the recent debate on the

Estimates (a copy of which is enclosed in my Despatch No.

310 of even date) Your Lordship will observe that the

Honourable Mr. 3. A. Hewett who represents the Chamber of

Commerce and was the spokesman of the general views of the

Unofficial Members spoke as follows on this subject:-

"Turning to the Postal Agencies I think we are all of one

mind that it is quite unreasonable to expect the tax-

-Payers of Hongkong to contribute towards their losses.

It is very gratifying indeed to know that the Imperial

Government now agree to pay half of that loss and I trust

the communities concerned will put their hands in their

pockets and bear the other half. Speaking as a resident

for a great number of years in China I would be the first

to deplore the closing of the British Fost Offices, be-

-callse