XN000022-1975-05-21 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975

POSTAL SERVICES MAY BE EXTENDED

TO MORE LICENSED AREAS

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A DETAILED STUDY IS BEING MADE OF ALL LICENSED AREAS WITH A VIEW TO EXTEND MAIL DELIVERY SERVICES TO AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE, THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY.

FROM THE INFORMATION OBTAINED SO FAR, MR. ROBERTS SAID, THE POST MASTER GENERAL WAS SATISFIED THAT. WITH ONE OR TWO POSSIBLE EXCEPTIONS, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DOOR- TO-DOOR MAIL DELIVERIES IN ALL THOSE LICENSED AREAS WHERE THE STRUCTURES WERE SYSTEMATICALLY NUMBERED. +HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE STAFF IMPLICATIONS THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIMË.+

MR. ROBERTS WAS SPEAKING IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JAMES WU.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE POST OFFICE IS ALREADY DELIVERING MAIL TO 12 OUT OF THE 28 LICENSED AREAS WHICH ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY,

IN A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION THE HON. LO TAK-SHING ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO MAIL ADDRESSED TO THE OTHER 16 LICENSED AREAS.

MR. ROBERTS REPLIED: +THE USUAL CUSTOM, THOUGH IT MAY VARY FROM AREA TO AREA, IS THAT THE POSTMAN LEAVES ALL MAIL WHICH IS ADRESSED TO THE AREA AT ONE OR TWO COLLECTING POINTS WITHIN THE AREA, PERHAPS A WELFARE HUT OR SOMETHING OF THAT DESCRIPTION, AND THE RESIDENTS THEN COME TO THAT CENTRE AND COLECT THE LETTERS THEMSELVES.+

BILLS PASSED

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THREE BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY WERE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES (EXTENSION OF GRANTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)

(NO. 3) BILL 1975 AND THE LOANS BILL 1975.

TWO OTHER BILLS -- THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1975 AND THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1975 - WERE TODAY INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL. THEY BOTH RECEIVED THEIR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.

AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S BILL -- THE BISHOP OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HONG KONG INCORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975 ALSO COMPLETED ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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