§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the foreign administration of the Customs Service of China has for 25 years conveyed the mails of all the Union countries from Chinkiang to Pekin, and whether in 1886 official negotiations were opened for the transfer of the whole business of the British Postal Agencies in China to that Customs Service, the proposal being approved by the British Postmaster General; whether he is aware that serious dissatisfaction with certain features of the existing British service prevails at the Treaty Ports; and whether he will consider the possibility of accomplishing the transfer contemplated in 1886 to the Chinese Customs Service?
§ SIK E. GREYHer Majesty's Government are aware that this question was raised in 1886, and that it was then decided that it was not ripe for decision. A similar proposition was recently mentioned to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin by the Chinese Inspector General of Customs and referred to the Postmaster General, who saw no reason to depart from the views originally expressed. Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any serious dissatisfaction at the Treaty Ports with regard to the existing arrangements, but the whole question was in April last referred to Her Majesty's Ministers for a Report, which must be awaited before further steps can be taken in the matter.