XN000022-1971-06-17 — Page 2

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Thursday, June 17, 1971

There will be general increases in parcel post charges from

1st July due to higher handling costs, partly within Hong Kong but mainly

in countries of destination, and by carriers.

reflect a world-wide trend.

These increases generally

Commenting on the new rates the Postmaster General, Mr. Addi,

said today: "We have had considerable success in keeping postage rates

down but nevertheless we have to raise postal charges for those services

for which the minimum rates were laid down by the Universal Postal Union

at the Tokyo Convention, for which the existing charge is uneconomical,

and where we are charged higher fees by carriers and other administrations.

Costs have risen considerably over the past years and, as everyone knows,

it now costs much more to employ staff than it did 20 years ago, when

our basic inland rates were established."

Other changes announced today which will also take effect from

July 1st include the following:

Registered mail

The fee for registration will be raised from 40 cents to $1, as

the present charge is less than half the handling cost.

represents a small percentage of all mail handled by the Post Office and

out of a total of 240 million items posted in the Colony during the last

financial year only 7 million were registered.

The sample post service will be abolished. Trade samples may be

sent by small packet post for which the weight limit is two pounds for

all countries, or they may be sent by parcel post, for which the weight

limit, for most countries, is 22 pounds.

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