mail than was previously the case. Notwithstanding this factor and the shortage of adequate accommodation at the principal mail processing centres, a substantial improvement in speed of delivery was achieved-to the point where an estimated 98% of inland letter traffic is delivered not later than the first working day following the date of posting. It is not always possible to achieve this high overall standard in areas where the relatively small amount of correspondence available for delivery does not justify two deliveries of mail each day.
32. To keep pace with building development in all areas and the increased amount of mails received for delivery, regular surveys of delivery beats were carried out and revisions were introduced as the need arose. During the year 19 new delivery beats were created, 5 on Hong Kong Island and 14 in Kowloon and New Territories.
33. There is a continuing need for the co-operation of the public in the clear numbering of offices and apartments in multi-storey buildings and for the provision of adequate and well-sited letter box units to facilitate the delivery of mail.
34. The inland registration service continued to be extensively used by the public and a total of 3.2 million items were handled during the year, indicating a rise of 0.1 million, or 3.2%.
35. Use of the local Recorded Delivery service by Government Departments showed an increase of 1.7%.
36. The volume of inland parcels posted totalled 38,200, an increase of 11,200, or 41.5%, over the preceding year.
37. The number of posting boxes (including private posting boxes and mail chutes) totalled 506 at the end of the year with an addition of 10 new posting boxes (1 in Hong Kong and 9 in Kowloon and New Territories). One was withdrawn from the service as it was not being adequately used.
38. Five additional motor vehicles were brought into use to augment inter-office services, posting box collections and motorized deliveries. This brought the total number of vehicles in the postal fleet to 79, including six motor scooters.
39. As in previous years, a temporary post office was opened at the 29th Exhibition of Hong Kong Products during the period 9th December, 1971, to 16th January, 1972. Temporary post offices were also
6