XN000022-1990-06-14 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1990

TURNING TO A QUESTION RAISED ON THE FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A LOWER POSTAGE RATE FOR BULK MAILERS IN HONG KONG WITH A SLOWER DELIVERY SERVICE SIMILAR TO THE THIRD CLASS MAIL SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES, MR WONG EXPLAINED THAT A PRE-CONDITION FOR THIS PROPOSITION WAS UNOCCUPIED TIME IN THE SORTING OFFICE

SO THAT STAFF COULD HANDLE THIRD CLASS ITEMS WHEN THEY WERE FREE.

HE SAID THE SITUATION IN THE HONG KONG POST DIFFERENT AS THE MANPOWER SITUATION WAS TIGHT AND THE ALREADY FULLY OCCUPIED, AND HE WAS THEREFORE NOT IN A OFFER A CHEAPER SERVICE TO BULK MAILERS.

OFFICE WAS STAFF WERE POSITION то

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG ALREADY HAD BULK SURFACE MAIL, AND A DISCOUNTED RATE WAS OFFERED FOR NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS AND BOOKS.

"WE FOLLOW THE SPIRIT AND CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION ON THIS MATTER, AND NO DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL PRINTED PAPERS, HE SAID.

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MR WONG ADDED THAT THE POST OFFICE ALSO OFFERED A BULK AIRMAIL SERVICE AT A CHEAPER RATE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF CONVEYANCE HE COULD NOT OFFER AN EVEN CHEAPER RATE FOR NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS AND BOOKS.

NOTING THAT DIRECT MARKETERS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS OF THE POST OFFICE, MR WONG SAID THAT HE REALISED THE IMPORTANCE THE DEPARTMENT'S ROLE IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS.

OF

FLEXIBLE A MANNER

"WE WILL TRY TO RESPOND IN AS POSITIVE AND AS POSSIBLE. IT IS OUR OBJECTIVE TO GROW AND EXPAND WITH THE DIRECT MARKETING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG, HE ADDED.

PROVISIONAL LEGCO ELECTORAL ROLL TO BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW

THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTORAL ROLL ΤΟ BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) CARRIES 59,004 NAMES, SHOWING A MINOR INCREASE OF 317 ENTRIES FROM THE 1989 REGISTER.

THERE ARE 525 NEW ENTRIES, OFFSET BY A REDUCTION OF 208 VOTERS DUE TO DEATH AND CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS.

THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE IN THE POTENTIAL ELECTORATE AND THE REGISTRATION RATE SHOWS A MINOR IMPROVEMENT FROM 55.9 PER CENT TO 56.5 PER CENT.

/THE PROVISIONAL