Appendix Q.
REPORT ON THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG,
FOR THE YEAR 1914.
1.-STAFF.
Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe acted as Colonial Treasurer in addition to his other duties from the 14th April. Mr. M. J. Breen, Assistant Postmaster General, was appointed Assistant District Officer on 1st January, 1914, but continued to perform the duties of Assistant Postmaster General until the 19th March when he was appointed to act as Assistant Colonial Secretary. He was relieved by Mr. N. L. Smith who performed the duties of Assistant Postmaster General throughout the year. Mr. J. D. Lloyd was appointed Assistant Postmaster General on the 12th January, 1914. He returned from leave on 27th November and took up the duties of Deputy Registrar and Accountant, Supreme Court. Mr. R. A. J. Savage, formerly Superintendent of Mails, retired on pension on the 14th February and was succeeded by Mr. T. Hynes of the Sanitary Department who took up his new duties on his return from leave on the 14th December. Mr. G. G. Burnett, senior clerk, went home on sick leave on the 26th September and Mr. R. C. Watt of the Hongkong Police was attached to the General Post Office as Postal Inspector, the indoor duties of the senior clerk being divided among two members of the clerical postal staff.
In the clerical staff 2 clerks resigned, 2 shroffs died, 2 were transferred to other Departments and one was dismissed. Six new appointments were made and one clerk was transferred to the General Post Office from the Supreme Court.
One new post, that of 6th Grade shroff, was created when the new Branch Post Office was opened in Saiyingpun.
All the new clerks appointed were selected from among the Staff of Probationer Sorters.
2.-MAILS.
The number of mails, mail bags and packets despatched showed an increase of 3,647 over the 1913 figures, but those received decreased by 15,382. The total number of mail bags and packets dealt with amounted to 250,304 as compared with 262,039 in the preceding year. The decrease is entirely due to the war and the consequent withdrawal of a large number of mail steamers, notably those of the Canadian Pacific Railway, but it is interesting to note that in spite of the unsettled state of affairs the despatches from the Colony should show a slight increase.