XN000022-1977-07-22 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1977

NEW INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE

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ANOTHER STEP HAS BEEN TAKEN TOWARDS THE BUILDING OF HONG KONG'S $44 MILLION NEW INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE ADJACENT TO HUNG HOM RAILWAY STATION.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO-STOREY MAIN BUILDING ON THE HUNG HOM RECLAMATION NEXT TO THE STATION.

MR. PATRICK LEE, SENIOR ARCHITECT OF THE P.W.D.'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT WORK WOULD BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

MR. LEE SAID THAT PILING WORK FOR THE FOUNDATIONS, WHICH BEGAN LAST YEAR, IS ALREADY COMPLETED.

THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE, HE SAID, WOULD OCCUPY AN AREA OF 7,300-SQUARE METRES AND IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE A 600-SQUARE METRE MAIL SORTING AREA, LOADING PLATFORMS TO RECEIVE MAIL BY RAIL, SEA AND ROAD AS WELL AS SPECIALISED SECURITY AREAS.

PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE FOR INSURED PARCELS HANDLING AND STORAGE AREAS, RECEPTION AND DELIVERY OF REGISTERED ARTICLES, AS WELL AS SPECIALISED STORE ROOMS AND A WORKSHOP, MR. LEE SAID.

+SPECIAL CARE HAS ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THE COMFORT OF THOSE WORKING IN THE NEW INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE, HE SAID.

+ THE BUILDING WILL BE AIR-CONDITIONED AND THERE WILL BE ALSO A DINING ROOM, A REST ROOM AND RECREATION ROOM FOR THE STAFF.+

THE MOST UP-TO-DATE AUTOMATIC MAIL SORTING EQUIPMENT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE CENTRE AT A COST OF $20 MILLION TO HANDLE THE MILLIONS OF ARTICLES OF MAIL WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH IT EACH YEAR.

INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF THIS SPECIALISED MACHINERY WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

IN ADDITION, PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE TO EXTEND THE RAILWAY FROM THE STATION TO THE CENTRE TO HANDLE MAIL FROM CHINA.

FOUR BERTHS WILL ALSO BE BUILT AT THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE SITE TO ACCOMMODATE BOATS WITH SEAMAIL TO AND FROM HONG KONG.

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