XN000022-1977-01-24 — Page 5

MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1977.

SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA TO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE *****

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA WHICH UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE TRANSMISSION OF BUSINESS PAPERS AND SAMPLES WOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MERCHANDISE WITH EFFECT FROM NEXT MONDAY (JANUARY 31).

THIS SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A CONTRACT BASIS OR

+ON DEMAND+.

FOR A CONTRACT SPEEDPOST SERVICE, SENDERS HAVE TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS, WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE REGULAR PREDETERMINED POSTING PER MONTH.

THE COST OF THE SERVICE IS A BASIC CHARGE OF HK$80 FOR THE FIRST POUND PLUS HK$15 PER EACH ADDITIONAL POUND OR PART THEREOF. THIS INCLUDES PICKUP AT THE CUSTOMER'S PREMISES AT A TIME AGREED BY THE CUSTOMER, AND DELIVERY TO THE ADDRESSEE.

AS ITEMS CONTAINING GOODS ARE SUBJECT TO CUSTOMS CLEARANCE, DELIVERY MAY TAKE SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN ORDINARY SPEEDPOST

ITEMS.

THE +ON DEMAND+ SERVICE IS PROVIDED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF CASUAL USERS OF SPEEDPOST, OR TO SUPPLEMENT A CUSTOMER'S CONTRACT SERVICE. +ON DEMAND+ ITEMS MAY BE HANDED IN AT THE SPECIALLY DESIGNATED COUNTERS AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE WITHOUT THE NEED TO MAKE PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE POST OFFICE.

FOR +ON DEMAND+ ITEMS A FEE OF $20 IS PAYABLE IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC CHARGES.

CUSTOMERS WISHING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THE POST OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE ON 5-2671105.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FIRST OFFICIAL STREET GUIDE ******

MR. JIM BENTLEY, HEAD OF THE SURVEY BRANCH OF THE P.W.D.'S LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) MORNING TO LAUNCH THE FIRST OFFICIAL GUIDE OF HONG KONG'S STREETS AND PLACES.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE CONFERENCE.

IT WILL BE HELD AT 11 A.M. IN THE P.W.D. HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE 21ST FLOOR OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.

COPIES OF THE NEW GUIDE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE.