XN000022-1975-07-10 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1975

NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE WILL GET MODERN

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THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE CENTRAL RECLAMATION WILL HAVE ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED MAIL HANDLING SYSTEMS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WHEN IT OPENS NEXT YEAR.

WORK ON INSTALLING A MODERN POSTAL MECHANISATION SYSTEM, WHICH COST $12 MILLION, WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH. THE EQUIPMENT IS NOW ON ITS WAY FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE LAST BATCH IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN NOVEMBER. THE WHOLE SYSTEM SHOULD BE FULLY OPERATIONAL WHEN THE NEW G.P.O. BUILDING IS COMPLETED IN APRIL NEXT YEAR.

THE NEW POSTAL MECHANISATION SYSTEM WILL INCORPORATE A WIDE RANGE OF MAIL HANDLING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING CHAIN CONVEYORS TO LINK THE G.P.O. WITH ADJACENT SEA BERTHS TO PROVIDE EASIER LOADING AND UNLOADING FACILITIES FOR OUTGOING AND INCOMING SEABORNE MAIL.

IT WILL FURTHER ENHANCE MAIL HANDLING EFFICIENCY AND GREATLY ASSIST POST OFFICE STAFF IN COPING WITH THEIR EVER INCREASING WORKLOAD.

MEANWHILE, CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE BUILDING, WHICH BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY AND TWO FLOORS OF THE FIVE-STOREY BUILDING ARE NEARING COMPLETION,

THE NEW BUILDING, LOCATED ON A 40, 000 SQUARE-FOOT SITE BETWEEN THE STAR FERRY PIER AND BLAKE PIER, WILL HAVE A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF ABOUT 135,000 SQUARE FEET. IT WILL HAVE MORE SPACE THAN THE OLD G.P.O. BUILDING TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF POSTAL FACILITIES.

THE GROUND FLOOR WILL HOUSE THE MAIN PARCEL ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OFFICES, AND VEHICLE LOADING AND UNLOADING FACILITIES.

THE MAIN PUBLIC OFFICE PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF COUNTER FACILITIES (EXCEPT PARCELS) WILL BE LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR, TOGETHER WITH SPACE ON A TWO LEVEL BASIS FOR 12,600 POST OFFICE BOXES. THIS FLOOR WILL BE LINKED WITH OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE AREA BY ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS.

THE MAIN MAIL SORTING OFFICE WILL BE LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR WHILE THE THIRD AND FOURTH FLOORS WILL BE USED FOR ADMIN-

ISTRATIVE OFFICES.

THE NEW BUILDING HAS BEEN DESIGNED IN SUGH A WAY SO THAT ADDITIONAL FLOORS CAN BE ADDED ON TOP SHOULD SUCH A NEED ARISE. WHEN COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED FOR USE, IT WILL BECOME THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAIN POST OFFICE FOR CENTRAL.

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