CO129-510-6 Rates and tariffs of Hong Kong wireless service 10-2-1928 - 8-10-1928 — Page 9

Mr. While

31/60

Mr. hamers 1/10

Mr.

Mr. Bottomley.

E. Harding.

Sir J. Shuckburgh.

Sir G. Grindle.

Sir C. Davis.

(4)

52832/28.

H.K.

8 9

Kont

Coded hus. 2.0μ 1/10/28

My despatch 24th April No.140

Sir S. Wilson.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore.

Lord Lovat.

Mr. Amery.

S

Me

DRAFT. Telcose)

.....Gov.

HONG KONG.

after consultation with GRO pu_est that wirele s rates should be

main ined at present level and that I

should again be consulted if resuls

so unsatisfactory that change is

imperative.

Despatch follows.

2 dfts.

noted

Page

C

Your reference

52832/28.....

P.O. reference......39.7.67./28........

All communications should be

addressed to-

"The Secretary,

General Post Office."

رما

Sir,

NATIONAL

FOR

R

DISABLED

50591

ge 10

×52

GENERAL POST OFFICE,

LONDON, E.C. 1.

.1928

18

September.

CHEME

MEN

RECEIVED

19SEP 1928

COL.OFFICE

10

I am directed by the Postmaster General to refer to your

letter of the 27th August and previous correspondence relative to

a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong stating that the cable

companies had reduced their rate for telegrams between Hong Kong and the Philippines to equality with the wireless rate and asking

whether a reduction of the wireless rate should in the future be

authorised in the event of the Government wireless station

proving unable to retain a fair share of the traffic.

I am to observe, for the consideration of the Secretary of State, that it would be difficult, so soon after the acceptance by His Majesty's Government of the recommendations of the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference, to formulate any general policy in regard to the conditions of independent wireless competition in

the new circumstances which will result. For example, the

Postmaster General has at present no information whether the

Communications Company intends to maintain within its own

services a difference in rates between cables and wireless.

Until the situation becomes clearer it would be consistent with section 44 of the Report of the Conference to take no unnecessary step in the direction of competition against the British cable companies, meanwhile examining on its merits each problem that

arises.

With regard to certain points specifically mentioned in the lucid and comprehensive despatch under reference, I am to say that as a general rule wireless services are still subject to

limitations of such a nature as to justify differentiation in the

rates of charge. The Governor of Hong Kong will be in the best

The Under Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE.

NEW

position

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