POST OFFICE (Contd.)
It is seen in every reference at this time how absolutely independent the local postal department was of the Government of the Colony and how subordinate it was to London; even the notepaper, ink, and so forth, is indented for from the P.M.G. at Home.
-829
The historian naturally becomes interested in the personnel of the Post Office at this stage, and a further perusal of the correspondence gives the following information, of special interest to-day. We learn that Mr. Thomas Hyland had actually taken charge of the Hong Kong postal department in 1845, for there is the following quotation in one of Mr. Cracknathorp's letters. "By reference to our books, it appears that from the 5th August, 1845 at which time Mr. Hyland took charge of this office ...." In the Blue Book this Postmaster's appointment is dated 1846, which suggests that the position had been an acting one for a few months previously.
Details of appointments and salaries of the more junior officers are contained in a list dated December 1847 which had been drawn up for transmission to London. I quote therefrom:
Employees receiving £100 per annum and over (dollar then about 4s. 2d.):
Richard Harvey Crackanthorp, Chief Clerk and Acting Postmaster appointed in 1845, from the General Post Office, London; salary £300 with an additional $100 while acting P.M.
Thomas William Marsh Second Clerk, appointed from G.P.O. London, in 1845; salary £250.
John Hudson, Third Clerk, appointed in 1846 from the G.P.O. Dublin; salary £250.
Joao Basilio dos Remedios, Fourth Clerk, salary £150. Appointed locally in 1846, and placed in charge of the Canton postal agency when that was opened in 1847.
These salaries were paid quarterly: but in March, 1850 there is a request for monthly payments, which was apparently granted. In 1860, as we shall see in later discussion, when the local Post Office was taken over as a Hong Kong Government department, there was a general increase of salaries all round by £25 a year.
Before concluding this brief notice of the early staff, we might note that Mr. Hyland returned from leave in September 1848, and resumed charge of the department, remaining until 1860. There is a letter dated March, 1852, in which he acknowledges a communication from the Government notifying him that he had been appointed a local Justice of the Peace.
Further references to the personnel, particularly the handicaps of sickness (then so rife in the Colony) under which they worked; and a clearer description of the Post Office premises, gleaned from the records, are reserved for a subsequent article.
POST OFFICE (Contd.)
It is seen in every referen e at this time how absolutely independent the local postal department was of the Government of the Colony and how subordinate it was to London even the notepaper, ink, and so forth, is indented for from the P.M.G. at Home.
-829
The historian naturally becomes interested in the personnel of the Post Office at this stage, and a further persual of the correspondence gives the following information, of special interest to-day. We learn that Mr. Thomas Hyland had actually taken charge of the Hong Kong postal department in 1845, for there is the following quotation in one of Mr. Cracknathorp's letters. "By reference to our books, it appears that from the 5th August, 1845 at which time Mr. Hyland took charge of this office .... 11 In the Blue Book this Postmaster's appointment is dated 1846, which suggests that the position had been an acting one for a few months previously.
*
Details of appointments and salaries of the more junior officers are contained in a list dated December 1847 which had been drawn up for transmission to London. I quote therefrom:
Employees receiving £100 per annum and over (dollar then about 48. 2d.):
Richard Harvey Crackanthorp, Chief Clerk and Acting Postmaster appointed in 1845, from the General Post Office, London; salary £300 with an additional $100 while acting P.M.
Thomas William Marsh Second Clerk, appainted from G.P.0. London, in 1845; salary £250.
John Hudson, Third Clerk, appointed in 1846 from the G.P.0. Dublin; salary $250.
Joao Basilio dos Remedios, Fourth Clerk, salary £150. Appointed locally in 1846, and placed in charge of the Canton postal agency when that was opened in 1847.
These salaries were paid quarterly: but in March, 1850 there is a request for monthly payments, which was apparently granted. In 1860 as we shall see intarlater discussion, when the local Post Office was taken over as a Hong Kong Government department, there was a general increase of salaries all round by £25 a year.
Before concluding this brief notice of the early staff, we might note that Mr. Hyland returned from leave in September 1848, and resumed charge of the department, remaining until 1860. There is a letter dated March, 1852, in which he acknowledges a communication from the Government notifying him that he had been appointed a local Justice of the Peace.
Further references to the personel, particularly the handicaps of sickness (then so rife in the Colony) under which they worked; and a clearer description of the Post Office premises, gleaned from the records, are reserved for a subsequent article.
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