Post_Office_1953-1954 — Page 10

REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE

25. Despite the continued suspension of these services to the China mainland their use continues to rise and the total of 2,174,004 registered and insured items handled was not only 11,798 items in excess of last year's total but was the second highest figure on record.

follows:

Comparitive figures for the past six years are as

No. of registered articles dealt with

1,575,945

1,835,053

Year

1948/49

1949/50

1950/51

1951/52

2,293,079 * 2,141,066

1952/53

2,162,206

1953/54

2,174,004

* record.

FORCES MAIL

26. There was no change in the situation as regards Forces Mail which continued to be dealt with by the Army Post Office and Fleet Mail Office in conjunction with this Department.

27. Mail for visiting warships was also dealt with under arrangement with their respective Postal Administrations. This arrangement continues to expand owing to the increasing tendency for Foreign Warships to use Hong Kong as a rest and recreation centre.

CHRISTMAS POSTINGS

28. Christmas 1953 again provided an oustanding record of postings at 2,100,000 as against the previous record of 1,506,673 and despite the use of staff from all available sources we barely got through. During the Christmas period we also received 5,161 bags of mail from overseas.

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