Appendix R.
REPORT OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONG KONG, FOR THE YEAR 1926.
1.-STAFF.
Mr. H. A. Mills was appointed Accountant to this Department as from 1st October, 1926, and arrived in the Colony on 4th February, 1927.
Mr. T. Hynes, Superintendent of Mails, went on long leave on 18th August. His duties are being performed by Mr. T. M. Perpetuo, Assistant Superintendent of Mails.
Mr. F. H. Holdman, Assistant Superintendent of Mails (Parcels Branch) was absent on long leave from 6th February to 12th November, during which period Mr. Thomas Lay, Assistant Superintendent of Mails, had charge of the branch.
During the year changes amongst the clerical staff were one pensioned, two dismissed, nine resigned and five transferred to other Departments.
2.-MAILS.
The number of mail receptacles of Hong Kong origin despatched during the year was 31,863 as compared with 32,044 in 1925—a decrease of 181.
Receptacles in transit which were handled numbered 175,055 as against 121,348 in 1925—an increase of 53,712.
3,900 steamers carrying mails arrived and 3,428 left, a decrease of 522 and 2,872 under the previous year's figures.
Full details are shown in Table 1.
3.-REGISTERED ARTICLES AND PARCELS.
The number of registered articles handled mounted to 906,383 as compared with 887,661 in 1925—an increase of 18,722.
The figures for insured letters were 20,236 and 15,327 respectively an increase of 4,909.
Parcels, ordinary and insured, which were dealt with reached a total of 555,354 as against 397,729 in 1925—an increase of 157,625.
The increase was largely due to the dislocation of freight Services in consequence of which shippers of valuable goods to South China had to resort to the Parcel Post Service.