A largo number of your readers have been anxious to know when we in China were to have the benefit of the Penny Post; Lam now in a position to inform them. The Postmaster in reply to my enquiries on the subject says: When China joins the Postal Union the penny postage will extend to her." I was under the impression that the penny postage was to British colonies and depend-endes, The above information therefore means, I presume, that China will at that time be a British Crown(!) or some other kind of colony or protectorate. Owing to the Extraterritoriality Clause by which we are governed in China each nationality is treated as if on the soil of the homeland or colony and Britishers have always been under the Hongkong Post Office. Now w: are severed and I for one would like to Know under what system we really are.
If the above information is correct _wo shall have to peg away at Sir Robert Hart till he has brought China into the Postal Union. I do not see, however, what that has got to do with it, ' We have always li the same rates as Hongkong in time and now suddenly a distinction is m: favour of Hongkong on the plea that China is not in the Postal Union Now Shanghai! the Emporium of the East! Waka up and demand your rights and equal privileges with Hongkong Tam, ete.
A Taxep Britisuer.
27th March. i the Editor of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.