413
3 Clerks attending public "poste restante" &c., 14 Registration and parcels branch
4 Branch Offices
Correspondence clerk.
leaving 12 as the entire sorting staff for ordinary
correspondence and to close mails.
half
15. Again in England mails arrive and are despatched by train on schedule times. At Hong Kong, with the uncertainties of sea traffic it is impossible to arrange that men shall work a certain time in the morning, at noon, and in the evening as is done in England; they must come on at opening time if the whole are not summoned earlier, and be relieved by the other spell in due time if the incidence of duty permits, and liable to recall, if necessary.
16 In Hong Kong the telegraph is not under postal control, telegraphists and their cost are not, therefore shown in the English figures.
17 To illustrate the elaborate checks established in England I may mention that at the Returned Letter Office, Mount Pleasant, the clerical staff numbers 176 and there are 15 other offices in the United Kingdom employing 200 individuals.
18. The Hong Kong Office suffers from lack of space and staff. At any future time should adequate or increased space become available, and I still hold my present appointment, I shall certainly represent that the staff should be increased: such representation is only now not made because there is absolutely no room to accommodate the clerks and the books they should keep, nor for the sorting tables that should be in use.
19
Primary sorting is now not possible, clerks and space not being available; the detection of errors is therefore...