PARCEL POST
63. The volume of parcel post business continued to increase, and at the close of the year over a million parcels had again been handled. The total of 1,180,492 (including 32,333 parcels in transit) showed an overall increase of 139,773 parcels or 12% over the figure for the previous year. Substantial increases were again recorded in the number of parcels posted and received by air mail. Air parcels posted numbered 171,705 and received 66,244, showing an increase of 30% and 31% respectively over the totals for the previous year.
64. New direct insured air parcel services were introduced during the year to Frankfurt, Sydney and Karachi. New air parcel despatches were received from Kuwait, Taipei (Insured), Tokyo (Insured), Lisbon and Vientiane. New direct surface parcel despatches were introduced to Matadi, Santiago, Punta Arenas, Teheran, Glasgow, Southampton Transit, Lima, Guayaquil, Asuncion and Acapulco. New direct surface parcel despatches were received from Phnompenh, Keelung (Insured) and Matadi.
65. There was an increase in the number of violations of parcel mails en route during the year. 20 cases involving the violation of 47 bags were recorded of which 11 cases affecting 31 bags, or roughly 66% of the total bags violated, concerned carriers on the Pacific routes. Strong representations were made in each case to the companies concerned.
66. During the year the air parcel despatching section moved to the Air Mail Centre at Kai Tak Airport. Air parcels posted at the G.P.O. counter are passed immediately to the Centre where they are sorted and despatched to their destinations.
REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE
67. The upward trend continued in the use of the Registered and Insured Services, and an increase of 372,440 items over the figure for 1959-60 brought the total to over four million for the first time. The steady annual rise in this traffic is illustrated in the following table:
Year 1955 - 56 ...
1956 - 57 ...
1957 - 58 ...
1958 - 59 ...
1959 - 60 ...
1960 - 61 ...
1
Number of Items
2,392,650
2,941,485
3,299,863
3,384,510
3,827,469
8
4,199,909
Page 15Page 16