§ Mr. HENNIKER HEATONasked the Under-Secretary for the. Colonies whether he is aware that notices have been served on the clergymen, missionaries, and English inhabitants generally at Chefoo, Foochow, and other places in China, that 522W it is in contemplation to close the British post offices at these places unless the communities agree to guarantee the so-called loss; whether Germany, France, and other Powers have ever made a similar demand on their people residing at any of these treaty ports of China; whether he is aware that the Post Office of Great Britain and Ireland receives £23,000 a year for postage on mails to China while the Hong Kong Government receipts only amount to £10,000 a year for postage receipts on mails to the United Kingdom; and whether each country keeps its own receipts or any accounts are kept?
§ Colonel SEELYI am not aware of the matter mentioned in the first sentence of the hon. Gentleman's question. I may state, however, that the Hong Kong Government is not in a position to bear the present loss on the Postal Agencies in China, and that the Treasury, while agreeing to bear half the loss, as a purely temporary arrangement, suggested that contributions might be obtained from the local communities benefited by the Agencies to cover the, remaining loss. The whole question is still under consideration. I cannot answer the third sentence of the hon. Gentleman's question, and as to the last two, I would suggest that he should put down a question for my right hon. Friend, the Postmaster General.