50. The combined total of $5,345,411 was not only the highest ever recorded but exceeded the 1955/56 record by over $1,000,000.
51. The revenue from remittance services was $48,111.
MISCELLANEOUS
52. The year was marked by two outstanding events, the most important of which, from the purely Departmental aspect, was the opening of the new Shamshuipo District Post Office on 6th September, 1956, by Mr. Parkin Wong, O.B.E., Chairman of the Shamshuipo Kaifong Welfare Association.
53. This office, the first to be built by Government for 41 years, is in one of the busiest and most congested areas of Kowloon and has already proved its worth, not only in providing full postal services to this area, but in the considerable increase in business and revenue which has already accrued.
54. The other incident was the unfortunate riots which occurred in Kowloon in the latter part of 1956. These inevitably disrupted local mail services for some time but fortunately it was found possible to attend to all overseas despatches and arrivals. Such local services as were necessarily closed during periods of curfew were reopened at the earliest opportunity and with commendable promptness. The only losses sustained by the Department were one mail van burnt out by rioters and superficial damage at the new Shamshuipo Post Office which was attacked and entered.
55. Other miscellaneous measures were the provision of the usual temporary postal facilities for the 14th Exhibition of Hong Kong Products and the visit of the tourist ship "Caronia".
56. Visits by school children and others continued at intervals throughout the year and were highly appreciated.
57. The only "fly in the ointment" is in the matter of staff recruitment. Post Office work is, by its nature, arduous, high speed and subject to difficult hours of duty. It is, however, highly specialized and offers an excellent career to those prepared to go through the millstream of experience.
58. Unfortunately, recruits of the calibre laid down by regulation are keen to acquire a desk and chair and are reluctant
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