Sessional_Paper_1889 — Page 89

HONGKONG.

THE ACTING POSTMASTER GENERAL'S REPORT FOR 1888.

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

87

No.

1

89.

the

GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG, 8th January, 1889.

SIR,-I have the honour to report on the British Postal Service in Hongkong and China during year 1888.

2. A new Contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, for the con- veyance of mails between Europe and China, came into force on the 1st February. Up to the present all steamers have arrived well within their Contract time. Although every effort was made on the part of this Department to arrange for the hour of departure of Mail steamers at noon, which was the time desired by the Chamber of Commerce, it was decided by the London Office (vide Mr. RAE's letter of 27th January appended) that as a general rule they were to leave at daylight, the days being Thursday during the fair season and Sunday during the monsoon. This was adhered to until the 5th May, when the hour was changed to noon, and the day to Saturday. On the 12th September the day was again changed to Wednesday.

3. The total number of officers in the establishment is 19. Four of these were added during the year, but even with this addition I find it difficult, owing to the largely increased business and conse- quent pressure, to carry on the postal work satisfactorily, and I have to express my deep obligations to the present staff for their unremitting endeavours to meet every difficulty as it arose, more especially to Messrs. ROCHA and MACHADO. If work goes on increasing as it has during the year, it will be necessary to make further additions to the staff.

The statistics attached will give an idea how work is increasing.

4. I regret to record the death of Mr. D. DA COSTA. He joined the service as far back as 1862 and has done excellent work as Marine Sorter.

5. On the 12th June the Postmaster General ( Hon. ALFRED LISTER) went home on leave and I took over charge of the Department with Mr. ROCHA as Acting Assistant Postmaster General. 6. The number of Parcels received and despatched during the year is as follows:-

By P. & O. Packet,

By German Packet,

Total,

Inward. 5,936

254

Outward.

4,276 127

Total. 10,212

381

6,190

4,403

10,593

The total number despatched and received in 1887 is 9,407. There is therefore an increase of 1,186 parcels.

7. By the Christmas Mail from Europe, we received 405 parcels and by the New Year's Mail from Hongkong we despatched 407. These are the heaviest mails yet dealt with.

8. On the 1st August the Rates of Postage on Parcels to the United Kingdom, were reduced as follows:-

1 tb.,

Each succeeding Ib. or fraction of a lb.,

.25 cents.

..20 "}

9. The London Office has laid down, that compensation not exceeding 20/ under any circum- stances will be paid in case of loss of or damage to a parcel forwarded to, from, or through the United Kingdom.

10. One parcel was seized by the British Customs authorities owing to its containing tobacco undeclared.

11. A Parcel Post between this Colony and Victoria and South Australia came into force on the 1st April, but up to the present it has been very little used.

12. On the 1st October the postage to the Australasian Colonies viâ Ceylon was reduced to 15 cents per half ounce letters and 2 cents per 2 ounces for other articles.