CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 757

N2 249.

36

REC

37551

REG 9 MF 16!

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 21st June, 1916.

740

Sir,

Wo 7078 Secretary of State's of

14th June, 1916.

Governor's of 19th June

1916.

Gov

Referring to the telegraphic correspondence noted

in the margin, I have the honour to forward the enclosed copies of correspondence between

the Vice-Conaul for Sweden and the Postmaster

General regarding the landing of seven bage

of mails from the S.S. "Japan".

2.

Mails destined for the British Post Office at

Shanghai are by arrangement liable to be landed and censored

in Hongkong. Six of the bags in question were addressed

"Shanghai" and, as there was no evidence, in the shape of a

statement by the Captain of the ship, or on the bag labels or

otherwise, to the contrary, the Postmaster General considered

himself justified in assuming that the bags were for the Brit-

-ish Post Office there; and he accordingly caused them to be

landed for examination.

3.

There was thus no actual breach of the Postal

Convention as regards these six bags; though, en sufficient grounds for suspicion, mails carried on a neutral ship voluntarij -ly entering Hongkong territorial waters would be removed for examination. Similarly, if the case should arise, an examination

would

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, M.P.,

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