and total postings of all categories were estimated at slightly more than 6,000,000 items.
64. The record for a single day was achieved on December 22nd when 882,000 items were handled, as against the 1957 record of 710,000.
65. Despatches of Christmas mail overseas also produced record figures and parcel traffic showed an overall increase of 71%. In the peak period 22,120 bags of mail were handled, which included 3,138 bags of air mail weighing over 30 tons; 2 tons more than in 1958. Approximately 3,000 bags of surface mail arrived on Christmas Day and Boxing Day necessitating the attendance of a large number of staff on those days. The contents of the mails were made available for delivery immediately after the holiday season.
66. The posting of Chinese New Year greeting cards showed a further increase in popularity. In anticipation of increased traffic a temporary labour force had been taken on and expectations were fully justified. No less than 1,838,300 items were posted during the six day period as compared with 1,689,830 items in the previous year.
LOCAL MAIL
67. Two postal deliveries per day including Saturdays were main- tained throughout the year and extended to include all districts except the more isolated rural, resettlement and squatter areas.
68. Systematic surveys were carried out during the year in line with the rapidly extending population of the Colony and the phenome- nal development of multi-storey buildings, new housing estates and resettlement area. It was evident from these surveys that additional deliveries and Post Offices were necessary and that some of the existing Post Offices were inadequate to cope with the rapid development in their areas. Steps were taken to recruit and train new postmen to meet delivery needs and it is hoped that the new Post Offices planned will materialize and that early reconstruction of others will be carried out.
69. Decentralization from the congested two main Post Offices continued whenever possible and sorting of mail for delivery in the North Point area was transferred to the North Point Post Office in May 1958.
70. Revision of mail despatching schedules to all offices was effected to enable more frequent despatches and collections to be made. Addi-
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