XN000022-1991-06-12 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1991

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GOVERNOR COMMENDED POST OFFICE WORK

*

TODAY

THE POST OFFICE HAS GROWN WITH HONG KONG IN THE PAST 150 YEARS REFLECTS ITS SUCCESS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TWPDNESDAY).

AND

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION ΤΟ COMMEMORATE 150 YEARS OF POSTAL SERVICE IN HONG KONG AT THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY, SIR DAVID SAID THE EXHIBITION WAS A CELEBRATION OF THOSE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.

"IT STANDS AS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF HONG KONG'S PAST AND HOW MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE POST OFFICE WAS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD AND ITS POSTAL RATES WERE

AMONG THE LOWEST.

HE SAID AN AIRMAIL LETTER POSTED IN HONG KONG LEFT BY PLANE WITHIN HOURS AND BACH DAY NEARLY 40 TONS OF AIRMAIL LEFT HONG KONG.

"THE HISTORY OF THIS SUCCESS STORY, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR HONG KONG, DESERVE TO BE RECORDED.

TI

WORK IN THE POST OFFICE, SIR DAVID SAID, MEANS PROVIDING A VERY DIRECT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND THE POSTMAN COLLECTING AND DELIVERING LETTERS HAD BEEN PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT HOWEVER SOPHISTICATED LETTER-SORTING BECAME. THE NEED FOR THE POSTMAN WOULD REMAIN; AND WITH THE POSTMAN

THE HOPE THAT HE WOULD BRING HONG KONG PEOPLE GOOD NEWS.

SIR DAVID RECALLED THAT ON A RECENT VISIT TO THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. HE SAW ON THE WALL OF THE MAIN HALL THE VERY APPROPRIATE QUOTATION FROM THE BIBLE: "AS COLD WATERS TO A THIRSTY SOUL; SO IS GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY,"

SAID.

"THE POST OFFICE HAS BEEN BRINGING GOOD NEWS FOR 150 YEARS,

H

HE

THE URBAN COUNCIL'S MUSEUM OF HISTORY GAVE VISTTORS A GOOD FEEL FOR SOMETHING OF THE POST OFFICE'S PAST, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

HR SAID THIS BUILDING, AMID THE BANYAN TREES OF KOWLOON PARK, AND THE EXHIBITION, RVOKED AN EARLIER HONG KONG WHEN POSTMEN HAD NO NEED OF LIFTS; WHEN THE MAIL BOAT TO BRITAIN TOOK 50 DAYS AND AIRMAIL LETTERS WERE UNHEARD OF; AND WHEN ADHESIVE STAMPS WERE A NOVELTY,

SIR DAVID ADDED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STAMPS TOLD A STORY.

THEMSELVES

THE FORMAL DESIGNS OF THE EARLY YEARS HAD GIVEN WAY ΤΟ

·NCREASING VARIETY AND COLOUR.

/"STAMPS HAVE