CO129-550-3 Empire Air Mail Services- cost of participation to be exempted from assessment for military contributions... 19-10-1934 - 17-1-1935 — Page 2

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

1.

To Gov. Hong Kong Conf.

2.

Gov. Tel. No.165.

19.x.34

20.11.34.

2

Yes, the GP.Q. also funded to let an have full

details although they are ashed to do so

Jilave

17.12.

In view of the statement in 2 that the

new scheme is likely to be a serious burden on Hong

Kong unless its cost is exempted from assessment of

Military Contribution, I attempted to discover what

d #

increase in the cost transporting mails the new

scheme would involve.

After speaking to Mr. Cade

I have abandoned the attempt, which I understand was

also made in G.D., as he assures me that it is not

possible at present to arrive at accurate figures of

comparative costs.

As I understand the position it is that

Hong Kong is asked, on the one hand, to make the

following payments in return for the carriage of all

Empire first-class mail by air from the point of connection between Hong Kong Feeder Service and

Imperial Airways

Mail payment

Subsidy

£7,500

5,000

£12,500

* This payment will be offset to the extent of approximately £500 on account of surcharge payments in respect of air mail for foreign destinations.

On the other hand, Hong Kong will receive

revenue from the sale of stamps. The net cost to

Hong Kong of the service performed by Imperial Air-

ways will therefore be considerably less than £12,500

per annum and it may happen that there will be a

first. profit, though perhaps not at me.

The payments referred to above will be made

from revenue and Hong Kong will be prepared to make

them provided the revenue concerned is exempted from

assessment of Military Contribution.

Such exemption

could

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