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POST OFFICE.

Mails. The number of mail receptacles of Hong Kong origin despatched during the year was 35,517 as compared with 35,159 m 1927—an increase of 358; the number received was 45,202 as compared with 43,638—an increase of 1,564.

Receptacles in transit, including those to and from British and Foreign Men-of-War, numbered 175,492 as against 194,200 in 1927-- a decrease of 18,708.

The large decrease in the number of receptacles for Men-of-War was due to the withdrawal of a large number of vessels-including a flotilla of destroyers-consequent on the establishment of a more peaceful state of affairs in China.

Registered Articles and Parcels.-The number of registered articles handled amounted to 806,980 as compared with 833,177 in 1927-a decrease of 26,197; of these figures 15,946 were in respect of Hong Kong postings and 10,251 transit articles.

The figures for insured letters were 17,430 and 17,648 respectively an increase of 218.

Parcels, ordinary and insured, which were dealt with reached a total of 423,880 as against 424,047 in 1927-a decrease of 167.

WIRELESS.

1. The year 1928 saw considerable

considerable advances made in the reorganisation and establishment on a sound basis of the wireless services of the Colony.

2. The Kowloon Royal Observatory W/T Station was closed as a transmitting station, the transmitter installed there being thorough- ly overhauled, redesigned and installed at Victoria Peak for broad- easting and commercial services. The Observatory station is now used as the receiving station for the ship services and as a distant reception station for the Radio Telegraph Office. The Observatory Station operates, by remote control the transmitters installed at Cape D'Aguilar which are used for the ship services. The station is also used for the reception of time signals, and long distance weather reports.

3. Cape D'Aguilar is now a gouped transmitter station for ship services and for point to point transmitters. Reception is not carried on at this station, operation and control of transmitters being done by remote control from

from the Radio Telegraph Office and the Observatory Station.

4. Early in the year a new site for a wireless station, to be built and organised on the most up to date lines, was chosen at Victoria Peak. A considerable amount of progress has already been made in the erection of station. buildings, masts etc., and two transmitters are already installed there, one working on 300 metres for broadcasting musical programmes, weather reports, news bulletins etc. and when not in use for broadcasting working on 850 metres for

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