84. A slight extension to the mezzanine floor has eased the delivery sections slightly in Hong Kong, whilst arrangements to take over the accommodation at present held by the Com- missioner of Rating and Valuation in the near future and to expand the airmail section will assist.
85. These, however, are temporary and therefore unsatis- factory expedients only and no real relief will accrue until new major offices are constructed both in Hong Kong and Kowloon,
86. Since on both sides of the harbour the new offices must be on the waterfront, the proposals for Hong Kong must await further reclamation whilst those for Kowloon depend upon the eventual layout of the Hung Hom reclamation area.
87. The second problem is that of providing adequate public facilities and cutting down the present unwarrantable distances between offices. In this direction I am pleased to report better progress at last.
88. Shamshuipo District Post Office-the first to be opened for 41 years-was opened on 6th September, 1956, for full postal business and has more than justified expectations.
89. Sheungwan Office which is being built in co-operation with the Hong Kong Telephone Company will be completed in the very near future. Other offices under construction or in the planning stage are North Point, Shaukiwan and Causeway Bay whilst major offices are being planned for Mongkok and Kowloon City.
90. Unfortunately the opening of these offices and the types of business introduced thereat will be dependant on an early solution of the staff problem referred to in paragraph 57.
91. A welcome innovation in the year under review was the construction of a conveyor and hoist bridge traversing the busy Connaught Road between the General Post Office and the sea front. Not only does this speed up the loading and offloading of mail in all weathers but considerably reduces the quantities to be hand-trucked to Blake Pier, always a hazardous and time- wasting operation.
STAFF WELFARE
92. Specialist lectures to the clerical staff were continued as also were the English classes for uniformed personnel.
Both are
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