31. The number of ordinary airmail items handled was 12,761,450, an increase of 783,088 over the previous year. On the other hand there was a small drop in air parcels from 117,257 to 105,460. This was entirely due to a reduction in traffic to U.S.A., Honolulu and Japan and is probably due to the tightening up of import restrictions in those Administrations.
were:
Japan
U.S.A. & Honolulu
21,876 parcels
3,098
**
In all other cases the traffic has increased appreciably.
Decreases
32. The increase in traffic necessitated the introduction of new direct air parcel despatches to Salisbury (Southern Rhodesia), Nairobi (Kenya), Seoul (South Korea) and Lagos (Nigeria), and new direct despatches to Vientiane (Laos) and Lagos (Nigeria). In the reverse direction direct closed despatches were received for the first time from Stanleyville (Belgian Congo), Calcutta (India) and Vientiane (Laos). Additionally, the air service was extended to selected offices on the China Mainland as referred to in paragraph 28.
33. It is pleasing to note for the first time, that with the exception of occasional delays and weather diversions, there were no major accidents or incidents affecting the air services for the year under review and the only serious problem remains that of inadequate space to deal with this rapidly growing service.
PARCEL POST
34. There was an increase of 2,785 in total surface parcel traffic from 618,722 in 1954/55 to 621,507 in the current year.
35. The vast majority of parcels consist of goods despatched in the search for new markets. Principal consignees were:-
U.S.A.
United Kingdom
156,175 parcels 119,256
Malaya
Africa
**
72,059
65,531
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