SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1974
OVER ONE MILLION +DEAD+ LETTERS HANDLED BY POST OFFICE LAST YEAR
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE TODAY URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN ADDRESSING THEIR MAILS TO ENSURE NO DELAYS IN DELIVERY OR EVEN LOSS OF POSTED ITEMS.
DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE POST OFFICE HAD DEALT WITH SOME 10 MILLION LETTERS, BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN, WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY OR INCOMPLETELY ADDRESSED. OUT OF THESE 10 MILLION LETTERS, 90 PER CENT FINALLY FOUND THEIR WAYS TO THE ADDRESSEES OR BACK TO THEIR SENDERS. THE REST WERE DECLARED AS +DEAD+ IN THE END.
BUT BEFORE A LETTER IS CERTIFIED +DEAD+ IT HAS TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF SORTING AND CHECKING PROCESSES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
WHEN THE POSTMEN RETURN FROM THEIR ROUNDS THEY PLACE. ALL THE UNDELIVERED LETTERS IN THE SPECIALLY ASSIGNED +DEAD LETTER+ BAGS IN THE POST OFFICE. THESE LETTERS ARE THEN TAKEN TO THE DEAD LETTER OFFICES -- ONE IN THE GENERAL POST OFFICE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OTHER IN THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE.
IN THE GENERAL POST OFFICE ALONE, FIVE MEN ARE ENGAGED IN THE TEDIOUS TASK OF TRACING THE CORRECT ADDRESS OF EACH ADDRESSEE. THE REFERENCE BOOKS THEY USE INCLUDE TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES, THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DIRECTORY AND FILES COMPILED BY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
+ IT IS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THESE MEN THAT MOST OF THE INCORRECTLY ADDRESSED LETTERS HANACE TO REACH THE HANDS OF THE ADDRESSEES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ON FAILING TO TRACE THE ADDRESSEES, THE MEN IN THE DEAD LETTER SECTION WILL THEN PUT A +RETURN TO SENDER CHOP MARK ON LETTERS WHICH CARRY THE SENDERS' ADDRESSES ON THE ENVELOPES.
LETTERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SENT BACK TO THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR FURTHER TREATMENT. BUT FOR LOCAL MAILS, ONE LAST
TTEMPT IS MADE TO TRACE THE SENDERS DEFORE THE LETTERS ARE DECLARED -DEAD+.
THIS JOB IS CARRIED OUT BY THE MEN IN THE RETURN LETTER OFFICE IN THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. THEY SLIT OPEN THE ENVELOPES ONE BY ONE TO LOOK FOR THE SENDER'S ADDRESS IN EACH LETTER. IF THEY
SUCCEED IN DOING SO, THEY PUT THE LETTER IN AN +UNDELIVERED CORRESPONDENCE+ ENVELOPE AND RETURN IT TO THE SENDER FREE OF CHARGE.
JL
IT IS AFTER ALL EFFORTS HAVE FAILED IN TRACING THE SENDER THAT. LETTER IS FINALLY +CERTIFIED DEAD+. DEAD "LETTERS ARE KEPT BY THE POST OFFICE FOR A PERIOD 12 MONTHS FOR REGISTERED MAILS AND
HREE MONTHS FOR UNREGISTERED MAILS BEFORE THEY ARE EVENTUALLY LESTROYED.
THE SPOKESMAN