SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG GOVT GAZETTE OF 10TH JAN., 1885.
39
passing one another would introduce endless confusion into the service. Letters which left London earlier would destinually arriving after those which left later. I do not see how the London Post Office is to form any reasonable which of three steamers leaving London or Liverpool for China within the same week will arrive first. We cannot do it between here and Shanghai, a voyage of 4 days! The experience of this Office in transmitting mails for Japan . P. & O. subsidy was withdrawn shew's how impossible it is to secure any thing like regularity of arrival by means Steamers alone. The most anxious care has been exercised to select the best opportunities, but the result has been tire communities of Japan have been continually complaining ever since the change was made. With regard to ward mails, few persons except merchants would ever have much idea when they would leave, and, as often as benartier would be very short.
I therefore the French packets continued running, the whole situation would resolve itself into heavy fortnightly forwarded by their means. The outward mails would take at least four hours to sort, and we should have all the old gain (now almost forgotten) of firms having their correspondence addressed to Singapore and sent up by private to get it quickly, &c. This might be economical, but it would not be pleasant, nor could it be called It is useless to suppose that any inducement would prevail on the public to correspond by private steamers if the hmails were available. When the postage to and from England was 1/4d. by the mail, every body here knew that
progress. Could be forwarded with fair regularity by private steamers for 6d. I believe there was only one person in the
mmunity who took advantage of the lower rate, and that person was a lady.
Tabtion of a subsidised service could be effected to some extent by not extending the contract beyond Singa- are quite sufficient steamers between Singapore and Hongkong, and between Hongkong and Shanghai, to carry without any very serious delay, and probably the English mail would always reach Hongkong and generally the next French mail overtook it. Between Ceylon or India and Singapore there are not enough Many of the Canal boats as they are called come direct from Suez to Penang or Singapore without calling
do not wish to be understood as recommending the curtailing of the subsidised line, but the Home Government for information and I merely say that this could be done. The results would be disagreeable in many ways. would disappear from the service. through irregular channels to obtain them quicker. A responsible and very thankless task would be thrown on the Marine sorting would have to be discontinued. Persons would get their re and Hongkong Offices of selecting the steamers to carry on the mails. Whatever steamer was selected, the uity concerned would but too often be apt to consider it was the wrong one, for that community would criticise, the event, a choice which would have to be made before it. Continual complaints, like those which have arisen in . Since the P. & 0. service was discontinued, would become common in Shanghai and in Hongkong also.
11. With regard to the suggestion of forwarding mails via Bombay, no doubt it might be done if there were any ular means of communication between either Calcutta or Madras and Hongkong. But except the monthly Indian amers from Coleutia, and a monthly French steamer from Calcutta and Madras, there are none. sire arrived at in consultation with Mr. F. R. Hogg of the Indian Post Office.
The following figures
Average passage from Suez to Hongkong via Colombo
(both monsoons),
30 days.
Suez to Bombay, Bombay to Madras, Transhipping, &c., Madras to Penang, Penang to Hongkong,,
11 days.
""
1
"7
5
27
30 days.
11
30 days.
But unless some regular weckly or at least fortnightly means existed of bringing the mails on from Madras, this route would be useless for all practical purposes.
12. On the question of the Distribution of expenses it is of course the opinion in this Colony that Hongkong should not contribute 9 per cent of its Revenue towards subsiding a mail service which costs the United Kingdom, without allowing for reimbursements, only per cent of its Revenue. But so much has been said on this subject that there can be
no need further to dwell on it.
13. I venture to recommend that these papers be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce, and to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.
.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
A. LISTER,
•
Postmaster General,
(C.)–CORRESPONDENCE ON THE MAIL SERVICE TO JAPAN,
The London Post Office to the Hongkong Post Office.
GENERAL POST OFFICE, London, 19th September, 1884.
--1 beg leave to forward to you herewith a copy of a letter addressed to this Department by Messrs. BISSET & Co. in which they complain of delay in the transmission from Hongkong of mails sent from this Country to way of that Colony.
Bisser & Co. have been informed that the Hongkong Post Office is not under the control of Her Majesty's General, and that their communication has been referred to you, for such enquiry as you may think the circum- of the case deroand.
Pestrupster General,
HONDRONG.
I
am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Enw. H. REA.
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