§ MR. JAMES O'MARA (Kilkenny, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will state how many letters were carried per P. and O. steamers to Hong Kong, how many viâ Canada, and What was the average number of days by each route.
§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)At the same time I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will state what is the approximate time occupied in transit of letters posted in London addressed to Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively, viâ Brindisi and via Vancouver; and upon what dates would the mails which left London on 9th January last, viâ Vancouver, and the mails which left London on 17th January last, via Brindisi, arrive at Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIt will be convenient to answer both these Questions together. The approximate time occupied in the transit of letters from London to Hong Kong is 29 or 30 days, according to the season, viâ Brindisi, and 40 days viâ Vancouver, and from London to Shanghai 33 or 34 days viâ Brindisi, and 37 days viâ Vancouver. The mails despatched from London on the 9th of January last, viâ Vancouver, are due at Shanghai on the 15th of February, and Hong Hong on the 18th, while those sent on the 17th of January, viâ Brindisi, should reach Hong Kong on the 16th of February, and Shanghai on the 21st. The hon. Member for South Kilkenny does not specify any period in his Question; but on the assumption that the figures for one year will answer his purpose it may be stated that about 230,000 letters from the United Kingdom were carried to Hong Kong by P. and O. Packet during the year 1901. The Canadian route, by which only specially addressed letters are sent to Hong Kong, was employed for something under 50 such letters.