THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1975
REVISION OF POSTAL CHARGES
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THE POST OFFICE WILL INCREASE SOME OF ITS CHARGES FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
COMMENTING ON THE REVISION OF CHARGES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE INCREASES ARE DICTATED MAINLY BY THE NEED TO CONFORM WITH NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WHICH GOVERN THE CHARGES FOR CERTAIN POSTAL SERVICES, AND THE NEED TO UPDATE THE PRICING OF A NUMBER OF MINOR AND SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES WHICH HAVE BEEN OPERATING AT A LOSS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.+
AT THE CONVENTION IN LAUSANNE IN 1974, THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (UPU), OF WHICH NEARLY EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS A MEMEER, AGREED TO A NUMBER OF CHANGES AND PRICE INCREASES IN THE INTE NATIONAL MAIL SERVICES.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE TO HONG KONG, ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, IS A THREE-FOLD INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH THE POSTAL ADMINISTRATION OF ONE COUNTRY MUST PAY TO THAT OF ANOTHER IF IT SENDS TO THAT COUNTRY MORE MAIL THAN IT RECEIVES FROM IT. THIS +IMBALANCE PAYMENT+ WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1 TO $3 FOR EACH KILOGRAMME OF EXCESS WEIGHT OF MAIL FROM JANUARY 1.
THE COST OF AEROGRAMMES WILL GO UP FROM 50 CENTS TO 60 CENTS. +THE 50 CENT AEROGRAMME HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 20 YEARS, AND HAS LONG BEEN A POPULAR BEST BUY'. BUT EVEN AT ITS NEW PRICE, IT WILL STILL PROVIDE ONE OF THE CHEAPEST AIRMAIL SERVICE IN THE WORLD, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
INCREASES IN AIRMAIL CHARGES TO INDIA, JAPAN AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA, AND ALSO A MODEST UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SEAMA IL LETTER RATES TO COUNTRIES OTHER THAN CHINA, MACAU AND TAIWAN ARE ALL BEING MADE TO CONFORM WITH UPU TARIFF CHANGES.
BY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT, THE INSURED BOX SERVICES WILL CEASE. THE ITEMS WHICH MUST BE SENT IN INSURED BOXES AT PRESENT MAY BE SENT IN INSURED LETTERS OR PACKETS IN FUTURE.
BY SIMILAR AGREEMENT, INSURANCE FEES AND THE COST OF INTERNATIONAL REPLY COUPONS WILL BE INCREASED. THE FEE FOR REQUESTING ADVICE OF DELIVERY OF A REGISTERED LETTER WILL ALSO BE INCREASED, AND IT WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE TO REQUEST SUCH AN ADVICE AFTER THE LETTER HAS BEEN POSTED.
/AMONG OTHER