COPY
To
Rube_nclosure 5.
292
C.O.
21403
RECO
Ox
REat 14 AUG 19
Registration & Parcels Branch
General Post Office
Hong-Kong 20th June 1899;
Sir,
I beg to draw your attention to the very unsatisfactory state of this Department at present, a condition which is solely due to the inexperience and inefficiency of the staff.
More Complaints have been made during the last two weeks than were made during the years 1897 and 1898, i.e. Complaints which have proved well founded and for which no valid excuse could be offered by this Department.
It undoubtedly is just and proper to deal with these Complaints as the pure and simple results of gross carelessness on the part of the Clerks; but I consider that there are mitigating circumstances that might with reason be taken into account. The work portioned out to these clerks is in many cases work that requires considerable experience, time and care.
That experience is lacking goes without saying; as regards time, I consider that the present long and arduous hours imposed on the staff (who are all growing lads) is conducive in a great measure to carelessness and errors.
I have no doubt that were these long hours only imposed for a matter of a few weeks, say during the New Year heavy work, the Clerks would rise to the occasion and carry out the extra work with despatch and care; but when this rush of work is protracted and kept up week in week out,
Postmaster General
HONG
KONG
One