Post_Office_1950 — Page 5

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Registration..

5. Registration statistics show a total increase of 259,108 items, (16%) over the corresponding period 1948/49.

The most outstanding feature was the increase of 59,599 items in domestic mail, or 41% over 1948/49 figures.

The increase in volume of mails received, particularly from U.S.A. of some 300%, is attributable to the diversion of former direct Air Mails to China from other Administrations to Hong Kong.

Conditions in China were responsible for a decrease of only 4,199 items, or .6%, of that normally received from that country.

Insured items show an increase of 20%.

Chinese Branch.

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6. The volume of mail handled by this important section shows an appreciable increase over the corresponding period in 1948/49. An increase of 31% in Registered articles and 34% in other articles is to some extent attributable to the diversion to Hong Kong of former direct air mails from U.S.A. and other countries to China. A large percentage of such mails contained remittances from overseas Chinese which, as in pre-"great war”. days were transmitted to China through the licensed "postal hongs" which have increased in number accordingly,

Money Order Office.

7. Details are given in Tables VII and VIII.

Despite the continued suspension of Money Order services with U.S.A., Philippines, China, Japan, Siam, French Indo China, Indonesia and the Union of South Africa, a sub- stantial increase over 1948/49 is shown.

Owing to devaluation of exchange, Money Orders for Pakistan showed a marked decrease. A considerable increase was shown in C.O.D. Money Orders from the United Kingdom as also in the issue of Postal Orders which service is now used extensively by the Chinese merchants in preference to the Money Order service.

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Every effort was made to improve the service generally by the introduction of "bulk Registration", the erection of more pillar boxes and increasing the number of Licensed Stamp Vendors to serve all parts of the Colony.

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