THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30TH MARCH, 1878.
113
31. The irregularities brought to light by former inspections, consisting chiefly of accumulations of undelivered letters, &c., have now ceased to be possible, precautions against them having been adopted in this Office.
32. In Japan, as also in Shanghai, erroneous ideas got afloat, very much exaggerating the aim and scope of what was merely a round of Office Inspection. In Japan it was supposed that negotiations were in hand as to the withdrawal of British Post Offices; in Shanghai, that something was to be done to fuse the existing five Postal Administrations into one.
33. The Postal service of Shanghai, considered as a whole, is not satisfactory. Nowhere, perhaps, are the grooves of business life adjusted to work more smoothly than in this splendid settlement. Everything that a business man can desire is anticipated, and in the most effective way, except that his correspondence has to be distributed to and by five different and almost rival Post Offices, to which it is not impossible that a sixth may be added.
34. Nevertheless, the scheme for an Imperial Chinese Local Post Office said to be set on foot by the Customs Authorities should be hailed as a step in the right direction. The only practical remedy at all likely to be devised for existing evils must be devised in the name of the Emperor of China. An Imperial Chinese Post Office, under exclusive foreign management, central, efficient, amply guaranteed, extended to all the open Ports, and admitted to the Postal Union, would make the Coast service of China more effective than it ever has been or otherwise ever can be.
35. It is matter of regret not to have been able to effect more for the simplification of the present state of things at Shanghai. The only point which suggested itself was to resign the service between Shanghai, Foochow, Amoy, and Swatow wholly into the hands of the efficient and deservedly popular Municipal Post Office, so as not to have two offices advertising Mails for the same places. But as the British Post Office gives facilities for Registry, which the Local Post Office does not at present afford, it has been thought better to make no immediate change.
I have the honour to be,
Sir.
Your most obedient Servant,
The Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
APPENDIX.
(A.) GENERAL RETURN OF POST OFFICE BUSINESS.
ALFRED LISTER,
Postmaster General.
SENT.
RECEIVED.
1876,
1877.
INCREASE. DECREASE.
1876.
1877.
INCREASE. DECREASE.
Letters.
Books
and Letters. Papers.
Books and
Books
Letters
UNITED KINGDOM.
Per British Packets,.
Per French Packets,
Papers.
No 131,580 83,898 117,666 record.
67,620 27,722 75,901
Books and Letters and Letters and Papers.
Papers.
Papers.
Books
Books
Books
Letters
No
No
and Letters and ¡Papers.
No No
Books Letters and
Papers.
Papers.
22
8,281
::
13,914
::
record. record, record. record.
"3
25
"2
::
UNITED STATES. †
Per United States Packets,
32,827
46,821 32,195 44,299
:
632 2,522 20,003)
34
REGISTERED CORRESPONDENCE.
United Kingdon,
3,871
Continent,
648
4,114 671
243
Australia,
127
137
Ports of China and Japan,
1,249
1,564
Straits, Ceylon, India, &c.,
795
828
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2,169
23
923
2,521 1,484
352
561
10
486
582
96
315
1,189
1,431
242
33
1,771
2,279
508
Total Registered Correspondence,....
6,690
7,314
624
---
6,538
8,297
1,759
Ship Mails,
1,939
2,140
201
1,696
1,800
104
tacluding a very small Mail for Yokohama by each U. S. Packet.
* Registered Papers, Books, and Patterns, not being numerous, are included under Registered Letters.
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