CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12] — Page 348

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expenses incurred by the Hongkong Post Office in the handling of mails in transit i.e. landing and shipping by Hongkong Post Office Launches, Postmen's labour in conveyance to and from pier (hiring of outside coolies when necessary), extra clerical work and storage in the building from time of receipt to time of despatch. It is not easy to assess the amount of the annual permanent

expenditure incurred by the Hongkong Post Office in

providing personnel to cope with the work of handling

transit mails but the Postmaster General states that one

of the two launches maintained is required solely for these

transit mails.

The question of accounting for these

receipts is involved. In 1907 and 1908 the question of

payment of Military Contribution on Receipts for Postal

Transit Charges was raised and an Inter-Departmental

Committee was appointed in 1912 to consider the question

of the contributions paid by the Eastern Colonies. This

Government is not aware of any decision being come to by

that Committee.

Up to 1908 there appeared an item of Revere

"Refund of Postal Transit Charges" but since that date receipts from other Postal Administrations have been

credited to the expenditure vote Transit Charges.

I have to ask your approval of the

continuance of this practice.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble servent,

7.2. Stutts

Governor, &c.

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