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Lourenço Marques, Hamburg and Jan Smuts (Johannesburg). A survey at present in hand indicates that still further despatches to these places may have to be formed.
20. The year was marred by three unfortunate air crashes; a B.O.A.C, Comet and P.A.L. DC6 off Rome and a B.O.A.C. Constellation at Singapore. There were no Hong Kong mails on the 'Comet', whilst of those on P.A.L. and the Constellation, a large proportion of the mail and contents was recovered and delivered.
21. Insofar as Hong Kong was concerned the major effect of these crashes was that discussions with the British Post Office for improvements in the Hong Kong/London service by providing suitable links with the Singapore and Tokyo Comet services were nullified, whilst the subsequent pressure on the Argonauts left Hong Kong with only two fast flights to the United Kingdom. Every effort was, however, made to connect with Commonwealth flights from Singapore.
22. Only one direct flight is available to Australia and here again, despite the additional cost it has been essential to utilize connexions at Singapore for additional despatches.
23. The insured Air Mail service was extended to Japan on 1st July, 1953.
PARCEL POST
24. By paradox, a general trade depression invariably produces increased parcel traffic, presumbly by reason of the necessity for wider circulation of sample goods with a view to opening of new trade channels. This was evident in 1953/54 when despite a recession in general trade, parcel traffic was increased by nearly 30% to 524,481 surface parcels alone. Principal increases were to U.S.A., United Kingdom and East Africa and the heavy traffic to the last named was such that at the urgent request of the East African authorities ways and means had to be investigated of diverting part of the traffic to alternative ports. Additional parcel despatches were received from Thailand, Hamburg, Bremen, Sandakan and Jesselton.
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