Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 101

HONGKONG.

The Postmaster General's Report for 1884.

Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

No. 8.

97

1884.

GENERAL POST OFFICE,

HONGKONG, January 1st, 1885.

SIR,-I have the honour to report on the British Postal service in Hongkong and China during

2. An important extension of Money Order facilities has taken place, in the introduction of Postal Notes. For many years past Money Orders have been obtainable only at Hongkong or Shanghai. Residents at the other ports had to obtain them from one or other of these offices, which could not be arranged without a good deal of delay and trouble. Postal Notes on the United Kingdom for fixed amounts, varying from one shilling to twenty shillings, are now to be had at Canton, Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo and Hankow, besides Hongkong and Shanghai. At present both Money Orders and Postal Notes on the United Kingdom are on sale in these two latter offices, but the Postal Notes effect such a simplification of accounts as compared with the Money Order system, that, during the present year, the question will be taken into consideration whether it is not possible to abolish Money Orders (on the United Kingdom) and use Postal Notes only.

3. Either means of remittance has its own advantages. The Postal Note is more quickly and easily obtained, it is payable anywhere in the United Kingdom and with less formality than the Money Order, whilst the saving of work it effects in the Post Office is immense. On the other hand the price of the Postal Note is fixed, so that the purchaser does not get the benefit of a rise in Exchange; the commission charged on each note makes the remittance of a broken sum comparatively rather expensive, whilst the sender's having to put seven or eight pieces of paper into his letter instead of one still further adds to this expense. A Postal Note lost is beyond remedy, whereas a Money Order may be lost and the money remain safe. It would however have been impossible to introduce the sale of Money Orders at our smaller offices, but Postal Notes can easily be sold at them all. If Postal Notes are made the only means of remittance it will be possible to continue their sale to an hour much nearer the time of closing the mail than is at present the case with Money Orders.

4. Other additions to our Money Order system are in progress. Arrangements are under con- sideration for the exchange of Money Orders with Portugal, with the United States, and with Hawaii. It is hoped that before another annual Report is presented these exchanges may be in operation. The Money Order office now pays its own expenses, if indeed it does not secure a small profit. Instructions received as to the presentation of Administrative Reports within the first seven days of the new year effectually prevent, however, any satisfactory or complete statement of accounts.

5. The subject of a Savings Bank had long been under the consideration of this Department, but the fact that every officer of it is overworked, and that no increase to the staff would have been sanctioned was a serious obstacle. At length a plan was submitted for conducting a Savings Bank two days a week in the Stamp Office, which, under the same roof as the Post Office, is happily exempt from the rushes of work inevitable in the Postal service of a Colony well described as "a sort of Clapham Junction for steamers." Whilst this plan was under consideration, however, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank offered to carry on a Savings Bank on terms in many respects more favourable to depositors than those contemplated by the Government scheme. This offer was accepted. Its main advantage is that the Bank is open every day, instead of two days a week only, and that depositors who have $100 to credit can at once open a Banking account and increase their deposits indefinitely.