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MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1979
+IT IS AN ARDUOUS TASK WITH EVERY MEMBER OF THE TEAM HAVING TO GO THROUGH TELEPHONE AND BUSINESS DIRECTORIES, STREET GUIDES, AND MAPS SEARCHING FOR CLUES AS TO THE ADDRESSEE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ONLY AS A LAST RESORT WILL MAIL BE OPENED AND THIS IS CARRIED OUT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SENIOR POSTAL OFFICIAL.
DESPITE THESE EFFORTS, THE SPOKESMAN ADMITTED THAT THE SUCCESS RATE STOOD AT BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT PER CENT FOR LOCALLY POSTED ITEMS AND 30 PER CENT FOR OVERSEAS MAIL.
EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENS TO WRONGLY ADDRESSED LETTERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THEY ARE KEPT FOR TWO MONTHS IN THE HOPE THAT SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS MIGHT TURN UP TO CLAIM THEIR MAIL.
+THE LETTERS ARE DESTROYED IF THERE ARE NO CLAIMANTS AFTER THIS PERIOD, HE SAID.
BUT LETTERS CONTAINING CASH, DRAFTS OR CHEQUES ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
+WE ALSO DEAL WITH A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PRINTED MATTER MAINLY BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. IF WE CANNOT TRACE THE RECIPIENT OR THE SENDER, WE NORMALLY DONATE THEM TO CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS, HOSPITALS AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID.
PARCELS ARE MUCH EASIER TO HANDLE AS THE MAJORITY HAVE THE SENDERS' ADDRESS.
BUT, IF THEY CANNOT BE DELIVERED OR RETURNED, THE ARTICLES ARE THEN AUCTIONED.
+SO. MAKE SURE YOU WRITE THE CORRECT ADDRESS AS WELL AS YOUR OWN RETURN ADDRESS. AFTER ALL, IT ONLY TAKES A FEW SECONDS,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED.
HE SAID THAT TO ENSURE DELIVERY:
*
PLEASE USE A FULL POSTAL ADDRESS
THAT IS,
NAME OF ADDRESSEE
FLAT AND FLOOR NUMBERS
NAME OF BUILDING
NUMBER AND NAME OF STREET
*
NAME OF VILLAGE, TOWN OR DISTRICT (IN LARGE LETTERS) HONG KONG OR KOWLOON AS APPROPRIATE AND
ADDRESSED ABROAD
THE POSTAL DISTRICT NUMBER, IF ANY-
NAME OF COUNTY, STATE OR PROVINCE-
NAME OF COUNTRY.
IF
LEAVE A SPACE ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENEVLOPE FOR POSTAL FRANKING.
*
PUT NAME AND ADDRESS OF SENDER ON THE BACK.
*
STAMPS TO BE PLACED IN TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER SIDE IF MORE THAN ONE.
SIDE BY
* DO NOT USE AIR MAIL ENVELOPES FOR SURFACE POST.
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