Appendix R.
REPORT ON THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG, FOR THE YEAR 1919.
1.-- STAFF.
The post of Assistant Postmaster General remained vacant until 24th October when it was filled by Mr. X. L. Smith who acted until the end of the year.
The post of Superintendent of the Registration and Parcel Branches remained vacant throughout the year.
Mr. A. J. Reed, the Accountant, was absent on long leave from 9th August.
During the year the changes amongst the clerical staff were one clerk retired on pension, one clerk invalided from the Service, and four resignations.
2.—MAILS.
The number of mail bags and packets despatched from Hongkong during the year amounted to 144,592 as against 135,162 in 1918, an increase of 9,430; the number received was 134,754 as against 126,225, an increase of 8,529.
The number of mail bags and packets sent in transit through the Colony amounted to 90,428 as against 81,562 in 1918, an increase of 8,866.
Boxes and baskets in transit amounted to 10,169 as against 11,307, a decrease of 1,138.
4,549 steamers carrying mails arrived and 6,463 left in 1919 as against 4,501 and 5,697 respectively in 1918.
Full details appear in Table I.
3.-REGISTRATION AND PARCELS.
Registered and insured articles handled by the General Post Office amounted to 955,535 as against 862,626 in 1918, an increase of 92,909.
Full details appear in Table II.
Parcels, ordinary and insured, handled by the Post Office, amounted to 219,143 as compared with 201,680 in the previous year, an increase of 17,463.
Full details appear in Table III.
Page 465
Page 466