COMMUNICATIONS
175
CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL
The Cross Harbour Tunnel Company, in which the Government has a 25 per cent interest, reported continued progress in the construction of the cross harbour tunnel, the largest tunnel project in the history of the Colony. The fabrication and launching of the submerged tube units was in full swing while work was well advanced on the ramp approaches and ventilation buildings. Con- tracts for the road connections to the tunnel on both sides of the harbour, which are Government's direct responsibility, have all been placed. Completion of these extensive grade-separated inter- sections is scheduled to coincide with the opening of the tunnel in 1972.
POSTAL SERVICES
The development of postal services continued in 1970 with postings to all destinations of over 200 million postal articles, representing an increase of about 20 per cent over postings for the previous year. About 164 million items were delivered and over 1.8 million were handled in transit. Total postal statistics are given at Appendix 38.
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二三
Counter business at all post offices includes the sale of stamps, acceptance of registered articles and parcels, and the issue and payment of money orders and postal orders. 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 most 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 200 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.
Two new post offices were opened during the year, bringing the total offices to 59 including one mobile post office operating in the New Territories. Of the two post offices one was established on Hong Kong Island at Causeway Bay, the other was opened in