INTRODUCTION
THE Post Office Department operates postal services within Hong Kong and participates in worldwide exchanges of mail by land, sea and air. It is responsible for postal remittance services and for such administrative functions as telecommunications control and radio- wave regulations. The Postmaster General is the nominated Telecom- munications Authority for Hong Kong under the Telecommunications Ordinance. The year under review saw the commencement of the Department's 132nd year of operation.
2. Revenue from Postal and Remittance Services for the year ended 31st March, 1973, rose to a record $173 million, an increase of 4% over the preceding year, while expenditure amounted to $100 million representing an increase of 5.4% over the preceding year.
3. During the year under review an estimated 252.1 million postal articles were dealt with--an increase of 5.6 million, or 2.3% over the number handled the previous year. Within the general increase in business, however, there were both upward and downward move- ments in the various categories of mail handled.
4. A Public Opinion Survey on postal services was carried out and about 2,000 commercial firms were visited. The results showed that about 67% of business organizations regarded the postal service to be satisfactory or better, 27% regarded it as fair, and only 2% were dissatisfied, with 4% offering no opinion. There was, however, a sub- stantial level of criticism directed towards the Post Office counter services. Nearly 40% of those interviewed considered the waiting time at counters was unreasonable but this in the main referred to registra- tion and parcel counters. About 63% considered that the degree of courtesy and efficiency at counters was satisfactory or better but the remaining 37% were dissatisfied with standards in these respects.
5. Much other useful information was produced by this Survey and the Department has taken account of the opinions expressed in direct- ing its efforts towards improvements in all areas of its activities.
6. During the year the staffing of the Post Office, particularly in the senior ranks, was substantially strengthened to enable the Depart-
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