687568-1879-Publishing-Letter-from-General-Post-Office-re-times-of-Arrival-and-Departure-of-Mails- — Page 1

No. 252.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 10TH DECEMBER, 1879.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

825

In accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of Ordinance No. 6 of 1875, His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to direct that the following days be observed as Public Holidays throughout the Government Departments.

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day.

Friday, the 26th December.

and New Year's Day.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th December, 1879.

W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary.

No. 253.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Document is published for general information.

By Command,

W. H. MARSH,

Colonial Secretary.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th December, 1879.

[Enclosure in Secretary of State's Despatch No. 140 of 25th October, 1879, to Governor of Hongkong.]

The General Post Office to the Colonial Office.

Copy.

No. 133, 376.

GENERAL POST OFFICE,

LONDON, 23rd October, 1879.

SIR, I am directed by the Postmaster General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th ultimo, transmitting for the consideration of his Lordship, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hongkong, on the subject of the times of arrival and departure of the homeward Mail steamers at Hongkong, under the new contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

In reply, I am to state for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that when the Governor's Despatch was written, the scheme for despatching the mail packets under the new contract was not drawn out, as it is only within the last few days that the contractors have submitted a time table for His Lordship's approval.

That table is based upon a departure from Bombay on a fixed day (Saturday), throughout the year, the Indian Government having insisted upon such an arrangement, and according to it the homeward packet will leave Hongkong, on Wednesdays from 17th December, to the 7th April in- clusive; on Saturday, the 17th April, and the 1st May, respectively; on Mondays from the 17th May to the 6th September inclusive; on Saturday, the 18th September; and thenceforward to the end of the year on Wednesdays.

The hour of despatch throughout the year will be 11 P.M.

Copies of the Time Table shall be sent to the Colonial Office, as soon as printed.

R. G. W. HERBERT, Esq.,

Colonial Office.

I am, &c.,

(Signed,)

WM. JAS. PAGE.