R 4
It will be remembered that during the early part of the year under report a prolonged shipping strike affected the Colony and had it not been for this the stamp sales would have been much greater. No one who knows the Post Office on ordinary occasions will ever forget that Black Monday when only some 23 letters were posted in Hongkong and none were received.
The balance of total revenue over total postal expenditure amounted to $404,746.54. It is gratifying to note that the Hongkong Post Office is one of the very few in the world which has not been compelled to increase its rate of postage since 1914. It is thought that only the United States and China are in the same happy position.
There were some trivial changes of rates during the year. The postcard rate to China was increased from 1 cent to 2 cents in order to conform to the Chinese domestic rate, and the rate from Hongkong to Canton was varied from 2 cents the half ounce to 4 cents an ounce.
The newspaper rate which was puzzling and illogical has been revised and now is 2 cents per 4 oz. to all places to which the letter rate is 4 cents an oz. and 2 cents per 2 oz. to all other places.
I give a few figures shewing the increase in postal business for the year 1922 as compared with the years 1902 and 1912. The General Post Office was moved from the Old to the present Building on the 19th June, 1911. The year 1912 gives therefore the first complete year's working in the present building. These figures will shew how greatly some extension in sorting space is required.
1902 1912 1922 Postal Revenue 387,066.19 401,054.32 662,862.11 Postal Expenditure 316,240.12 296,867.12 258,115.57 Sale of Stamps 264,420.83 360,947.44 572,583.95 Registered Letters 475,510 870,927 1,039,687 Insured Letters 284 2,905 14,761 Parcels 81,389 119,145 343,834The sorting of ordinary letters in every Post Office in the world is based on the assumption that such letters contain nothing of value. The Registration Branch is organised on the assumption that every letter contains something of importance, if not of value, while in the Insured Letter Branch it is assumed that all letters are of value.
Many complaints were received during the year concerning the loss of ordinary letters alleged to contain money. During the year under review a letter containing $200 in notes was sent by ordinary post. This letter was duly received by the addressee. This sum represents about one year's pay to a postman or house-boy. It is hoped that persons who send their
R 4
It will be remembered that during the early part of the year under report a prolonged shipping strike affected the Colony and had it not been for this the stamp sales would have been much greater. No one who knows the Post Office on ordinary occasions will ever forget that Black Monday when only some 23 letters were posted in Hongkong and none were received.
The balance of total revenue over total postal expenditure amounted to $404,746,54. It is gratifying to note that the Hong- kong Post Office is one of the very few in the world which has not been compelled to increase its rate of postage since 1914. It is thought that only the United States and China are in the same happy position.
There were some trivial changes of rates during the year. The postcard rate to China was increased from 14 cents to 2 cents in order to conform to the Chinese domestic rate, and the rate from Hongkong to Canton was varied from 2 cents the half ounce to 4
cents an ounce,
The newspaper rate which was puzzling and illogical has been revised and now is 2 cents per 4 oz. to all places to which the letter rate is 4 cents an oz. and 2 cents per 2 oz. to all other places.
I give a few figures shewing the increase in postal business for the year 1922 as compared with the years 1902 and 1912. The General Post Office was moved from the Old to the present Building on the 19th June, 1911. The year 1912 gives therefore the first complete years working in the present building. These figures will shew how greatly some extension in sorting space is required.
1902.
1912.
Postal Revenue. Postal Expenditure. Sale of Stamps
.387,066.19
316.240.12
264,420.83
.401,054.32
296,867.12
360,947.44
1922,.
.662,862.11
258,115,57
572,583.95
Registered Letters.
Insured Letters.
Parcels.
1902,
475,510
284
81,389
1912.
870,927
2,905
119,145
1922.
1,039.687
14,761
343,834
The sorting
Many complaints were received during the year concerning the loss of ordinary letters alleged to contain money. of ordinary letters in every Post Office in the world is based on the assumption that such letters contain nothing of value. The Registration Branch is organised on the assumption that every letter contains something of importance, if not of value, while in the Insured Letter Branch it is assumed that all letters are of value.
During the year under review a letter containing $200 in notes was sent by ordinary post. This letter was duly received by the addressee. This sum represents about one year's pay to a postman or house-boy It is hoped that persons who send their
i
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