COMMUNICATIONS
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the previous year. Items delivered locally exceeded 120 million and over 2 million were handled in transit. (Postal statistics are given at Appendix XXXVIII.) Counter business at all post offices includes the sale of stamps, acceptance of registered articles and parcels, issue and payment of money orders and postal orders and issue of wireless licences. Inland parcel post traffic has in- creased, reflecting the need for the service re-introduced in 1965. Special services, used mainly by the business community, such as business reply facilities, cash on delivery parcels, private boxes and bags, postage meter machines and arrangements for bulk postings are available. There are two postal deliveries a day, excluding Sundays, in all but the most remote rural areas.
A high percentage of mail posted is destined for abroad, and since separate despatches to individual countries are established whenever justified by the volume of mail available for despatch, direct despatches are actually made up to more than 190 different places overseas. The train services between Kowloon and Lo Wu form the main link for the conveyance of mails to and from the People's Republic of China.
Five new post offices were opened during the year, bringing the total of offices to 49. In addition, two mobile post offices operate in the New Territories. Of the five new offices, two were established on Hong Kong Island, at Morrison Hill Road and Repulse Bay; and three in Kowloon, at Lo Fu Ngam, Cheung Sha Wan and Tsz Wan Shan resettlement estate. Yuen Long Post Office moved in February to new accommodation in the Yuen Long District Branch Office. Delay in the completion of the building prevented the open- ing of Kowloon Central Post Office, but it is expected that the new office will be opened by mid-1967.
Three special postage stamp issues were made during the year. The first, commemorating the late Sir Winston Churchill, was released in values of 10 cents, 50 cents, $1.30 and $2.00; the second, marking the inauguration of the new headquarters building of the World Health Organization at Geneva, was issued in values of 10 cents and 50 cents; and the third, honouring the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi- zation (UNESCO), appeared in values of 10 cents, 50 cents and $1.30.