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correspondence sent this way will amount to £8,000 a year. Before
the general use of this route such correspondence went by Suez in
British, French and German Contract Packets. The next Postal
Union statistics to be taken in May, 1913, will adjust the pay-
-ments to be made for correspondence carried by French and German
Packets, but the present contract with the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company does not expire until January 31st.,
1915.
4.
The number of letters now exchanged, via Suez,
between the United Kingdom and Hongkong is exceedingly small, and
under this test of the value of the service to this community,
the contribution of Hongkong to the cost of sections of the
Eastern Mail Route, West of Singapore, should be correspondingly
small.
5.
The present annual payment by Hongkong for
tais service amounts to £10,673 and I would suggest that a fair
reduction would be at least £4,500. The importance of sea sorting
between Singapore and Hongkong no longer exists, so that in any
fresh contract for an Eastern Mail Service no provision for such
need be made.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
Amaz
Governor, &c..
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