XN000022-1991-04-11 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1991

GOVERNOR VISITS GENERAL POST OFFICE

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TOURED THE

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (THURSDAY) GENERAL POST OFFICE IN CENTRAL AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE OPERATION OF THE POST OFFICE.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR DOMINIC 3.W. WONG, AND HIS SENIOR STAFF ON THE VISIT.

SIR DAVID NOTED WITH INTEREST THE OPERATION OF THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED MECHANISED LETTER SORTING SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD TO USE OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION AND VIDEO CODING TECHNOLOGY TO SORT MAIL ITEMS DIRECTLY WITHOUT USING POSTCODES. THE EQUIPMENT CAN HANDLE 30,000 ITEMS AN HOUR.

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"THE POST OFFICE IS ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OLDEST DEPARTMENTS BUT IT IS RIGHT UP TO DATE WITH ITS USE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

HE ALSO MET MEMBERS OF THE POST OFFICE STAFF AND COMMENDED THEM ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE POSTAL SERVICE IN HONG KONG.

AIRPORT TALKS ARE CONTINUING: CS

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE TALKS ON THE NEW AIRPORT IN PEKING WERE CONTINUING, AND THEY WERK EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

SPEAKING ΤΟ REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE HONG KONG SPORTS INSTITUTE IN SHA TIN, SIR DAVID SAID: "IT'S OBVIOUSLY TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, SOME IS BEING MADE.

"THERE 1S STILL SOME MAJOR ISSUES ON THE TABLE. WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE ARE REMAINED TO BE SEEN. WE ARE, OBVIOUSLY, KEEN TO GET CHINESE SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING THROUGH THE TALKS TO TRY AND ACHIEVE THAT.

"BUT IN THE PERIOD UP TO 1997 IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT HONG KONG HAS AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. CLEARLY, THAT IS ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THE AIRPORT IN ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT WAY," SIR DAVID SAID.

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