XN000022-1981-09-29 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1981

COMMENT: NG ON THE PETITIONERS' REQUEST FOR

MEANINGFUL

DATA' ON THE POSTAL TRAFFIC BETWEEN HONG KONG AND OTHER POSTAL AUTHORITIES, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONVENTION, ALL COUNTRIES WERE CONSIDERED TO FORM ONE POSTAL ADMINISTRA. ION. THE NORMAL PRACTICE WAS THAT POSTAL AUTHORITIES DID NOT ADOPT A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT RATES FOR SURFACE LETTER MAIL TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE DATA WERE THEREFORE NOT RELEVANT TO THE ACTUAL DETERMINATION OF POSTAL RATES.

COMMENTING ON THE PETITIONERS' CLAIM THAT OTHER POSTAL ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE REGION HAD NOT RAISED THEIR RATES TO SIMILAR LEVELS TO HONG KONG, HE SAID THERE WAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE MAIL TRAFFIC IMBALANCE OF ANY OF THEM WAS THE SAME AS HONG KONG'S.

ON THE PETITIONERS' SUGGESTION THAT AN IMPACT STUDY BE CONDUCTED, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAD INDEPENDENTLY IDENTIFIED THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH WERE LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY THE NEW RATES AND NO FURTHER STUDY WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID WHILE THE GOVERNMENT APPRECIATED THE EFFECTS OF THE INCREASES ON VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS, THE POST OFFICE, LIKE THESE ORGANISATIONS, WAS RUN ON COMMERCIAL LINES AND COULD JUST IF IABLY EXPECT ITS CUSTOMERS TO PAY AN ECONOMIC PRICE FOR THE SERVICES IT OFFERED.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY CONCERT ****

TEACHERS AND TRAINEES FROM THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION'S MUSIC OFFICE WILL PERFORM CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE LANDMARK

IN CENTRAL TO COMMEMMORATE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY ON THURSDAY (OCTOBER 1).

THE ONE HOUR SHOW STARTING AT 12.45 PM WILL FEATURE MUSIC BY MOZART, HINDEMITH, SAINT-SAENS, TSANG WING-CHING AND YUE SUEN-FAT.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY IS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ON OCTOBER 1 WITH CONCERTS, OPERAS, AND RADIO AND TELEVISION SHOWS BROADCAST BY SATELLITE TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN MANY CORNERS OF THE WORLD.

IT IS ALSO ON THIS DAY THAT MANY AWARDS ARE PRESENTED TO PEOPLE FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO MUSIC.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MUSIC CONCERT AT THE LANDMARK STARTING AT 12.45 PM ON THURSDAY,

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