HoneKon, by its leading journal, does not think it preposterous that Shanghai letters to England posted in Hongkong should be charged ten cents per half-ounce, while Hongkong letters to England posted in Hongkong are only charged four cents, It is quite a new idea to us that the postmaster is to demand to know the place of origin of a letter handed in to him to forward, in order that he may fix the rate accordingly. "'The four-cent rate," the Hongkong Daily Press says, "is not a paying rate, and the loss will have to be made ood by the Hongkong taxpayers. If hanghai wants four-cents postage or six-cents postage, no doubt it would be able to arrange the matter if it were prepared to include a vote for the service in its municipal budget, but to expect the service at the expense of Hongkong is unconscionable." If the four-cent rate is not a paying rate why did Hongkon adept it Having adopted it, whether it loses money or not, the Hongkong postmaster has no right whatever to say that any correspondence on which the rate is duly paid shall be further taxed. He may be discourteous enough to refuse to receive letters contained in a cover addressed to him officially for postage, although it has always been and is the custom in China for postmasters to receive letters so sent and sign for them; and indeed there is some lack of courtesy in the Hongkong Post Office, for the letter addressed to it officially by the Chairman. of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.