Post_Office_1952-1953 — Page 10

FORCES MAIL

22. Forces mail continued to be handled by the British Army Post Office and Fleet Mail Office in conjunction with this Department.

23. In the course of the year many warships of the United Nations countries called at Hong Kong and their mails were dealt with by this Department under arrangements made with the Postal Administrations of the countries concerned.

CHRISTMAS POSTINGS

24. The Christmas 1952 postings of 1,506,673 letters established a new all-time record far in excess of the previous record of 1,084,000 posted at Christmas 1951. Of this huge total no less than 538,195 were posted in the two days 22nd and 23rd December, 1952.

25. But for the provision in 1951/52 of modern sorting equipment coupled with a wholesale revision of delivery arrangements it would have been impossible to deal promptly with this huge total. In the event, however, not only did no delay occur, but a large United Kingdom airmail received at 9.30 a.m. on 26th December, was also sorted and delivered by 11 a.m. the same date.

DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS

26. The revision of town deliveries in Hong Kong referred to in my previous report paid such dividends that a similar re- vision was undertaken in Kowloon. It is, however, proving increasingly difficult to keep revisions in line with the continual building and development which in Kowloon is very much of the 'Ribbon' type. New areas are being settled and low buildings are being replaced by modern multi-storied structures.

27. The burden of the delivery postmen is not eased by the apparent local aversion to letter box apertures in front doors in consequence of which much time and effort is inevitably wasted in ringing or knocking to call attention.

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