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The Insured Letter Box Service, as distinct from that for Letters, came into operation on 1st January 1926. By means of this new Service articles of gold and silver, precious stones, jewellery and other articles of a like nature, which are prohibited from transmission in insured letters, may now be sent in the letter mails. Hitherto such articles were transmissible by insured Parcel Post only.
This Department was involved in the labour unrest which became acute in June. The defection of 36 junior clerks and 170 postmen as well as the dislocation of Shipping Services made the task of maintaining Postal Services a difficult one. By taking on volunteer workers on counter duties and by the ready assistance of school boys from the Kowloon British School and St. Joseph's College in the Sorting Department all difficulties were speedily overcome and full Services were maintained without interruption with the exception of the domestic delivery Service which had for a short period to be suspended. The staff was however rapidly adjusted and normal conditions restored.
The revenue collected by this Department during the year from radio-telegrams amounted to $80,342.69 an increase of $20,846.28 on the amount collected in 1924. Advices of vessels signalled at the Lighthouses yielded $806.20 and Semaphore messages $29.95.
The number of radio-telegrams forwarded during the year was 10,524 consisting of 122,914 words against 11,270 with 107,771 words in 1924, and 13,180 were received consisting of 175,726 words as against 12,628 with 142,325 words in 1924.
25th March, 1926.
M. J. BREEN
Postmaster General.