PARCEL POST
50. The upward trend in the volume of Parcel Post business con- tinued, and at the close of the year the total number of parcels handled exceeded the million mark for the first time. The total of 1,040,719 parcels, or 20,000 parcels a week, showed an overall increase of 123,731 parcels, or 131% on the previous year's figures. The most striking increase was in the number of parcels posted or received by air mail, reflecting the increasing popularity of this speedy and economical service, and the attention given to the development of the service. Air parcels posted at 131,110 and received at 49,899 showed increases of 34% and 36% respectively over the totals for the previous year.
51. New direct air parcel services were introduced during the year to Beirut, Agana Guam, Salisbury, Johannesburg, Brunei and Osaka, and arrangements were made to forward air parcels to Central and South America, and the West Indies via San Francisco. New air parcel despatches were received from Milan, Bombay, Moscow (via Canton) and Jesselton. New direct surface parcel despatches were introduced to Georgetown, Beirut, Port of Spain, Paramaribo, Ocean Island, Noumea, Sorong, Bairiki Tarawa, Havana, Callao and Panama (via Kobe), Pusan, Espiritu Santo (New Hebrides), Khorramshahr (Iran), Damascus, Amman, Phnompenh and Istanbul. New direct surface parcel despatches were received from Moscow, Irkutsk, Rotterdam, Vladivostock, San Salvador, Panama, Brazil and Pusan.
52. The number of cases of violation of parcel mails during the year was 11. Violations were less frequent than in the previous year and again the majority of the cases involved carriers on the Pacific routes. Strong representations were made in each case to the company concerned.
53. For the first time the acceptance of parcels was undertaken at Wan Chai and North Point Post Offices, and at Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. Parcel delivery services over the counter were introduced at North Point, Sheung Wan and Aberdeen Post Offices.
REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE
54. The Registered and Insured Services were used to an even greater extent than before, and an increase of 442,959 items was recorded over
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