counter service, such as the special parcel inquiry desk which had proved so popular in the past, were repeated. Space available limited the relief which could be given to the parcel counters and unavoidable congestion occurred at times at this point.
61. Sixty temporary mail coolies were also engaged for a period of two weeks to help with the heavy collections and transfer of bags during the period.
62. A temporary labour force of thirty was employed to cope with the increasing popularity of sending greeting cards at the Chinese New Year. Most of the postings were made in the two days prior to the New Year of which the highest single day traffic at over 1,000,000 items were posted on the Chinese New Year Eve on 27th January, 1960.
LOCAL MAIL
63. Delivery sections throughout the Colony were revised from time to time to keep pace with the expansion of mail traffic and the erection of multi-storey buildings. During the year under review, 14 additional regular beats were created, 7 of which were on the island of Hong Kong. Plans for still further delivery sections were put in hand.
64. The twice daily delivery service, excluding Sundays, which has long been general in the urban areas was extended to many rural districts and to Island Road, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Aberdeen areas.
65. Sorting of mail for delivery in the Aberdeen area was transferred to the Aberdeen Post Office.
66. The thrice weekly mail service between Hong Kong and Chi Ma Wan was increased to a daily service through the medium of the Hong Kong and Yaumati ferries.
67. There were a number of fire outbreaks in Kowloon during the year and special efforts were made to deliver correspondence to the fire victims. Special arrangements were made in the case of fires at Tai Kok Tsui, Lo Fu Ngam, Shek Kip Mei and Tung Tau Village.
68. Additional transport secured during the year came as a much needed relief and resulted in improved efficiency in collections, despatch of mails to and from offices, and the transport of delivery postmen. Mechanized deliveries were introduced in the area along the Victoria/ Pokfulam Road of the Island and in the rural areas of the Peninsula.
69. It is perhaps appropriate to mention in this report that the postal delivery service was maintained throughout the Colony during the heavy
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