Post_Office_1952-1953 — Page 8

SURFACE MAILS

13. With shipping practically back to pre-war standards and with the re-appearance also of Japanese shipping lines, it was possible to provide fast and frequent services to most destinations and to increase the number of direct despatches. It was, however, necessary to make slight adjustments to the International postage rates to cover the devaluation of sterling and the general increase in mail freight rates.

CHINA MAILS

14. The restricted service with the China mainland was continued through the Kowloon-Canton Railway augmented by infrequent sea despatches to Amoy, Swatow and Swabue.

15. Apart from the fact that mails consigned by rail-and averaging 150 bags per day-are still manhandled over the border, the quantity and late arrival of these mails stretches the facilities of this Department to capacity and until the erstwhile ports of Shanghai, Tientsin, etc., are open to other Administra- tions for direct despatches of their mails it is impossible to envisage any lifting of the present restrictions on registration, parcel and insurance items, even if the general lifting of all embargoes justified such a course.

16. The normal service to Taiwan was maintained at six despatches monthly by sea to Keelung.

AIR MAILS

17. The growing popularity of airmail services can be gauged by an increase of over 3,000,000 in items posted over the previous year's figure. Facilities for air transmission of parcels and second class airmail were introduced on a general basis on 1st June, 1952. Concurrently, air postage rates were divided into four zones, simplifying the previous cumbersome method of individual charges both from the Public and Departmental points of view. The insurance service also, at normal surface rates, is now accepted for most airlines.

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