Post_Office_1954-1955 — Page 6

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FOREWORD

The Hong Kong Post Office, one of the oldest Depart- ments of the Hong Kong Government, entered its 114th year on the 24th of August, 1954.

2. During the year under review, new financial and traffic records were created, despite the difficult trade position experienced in the Colony due to various restrictions. Notwith- standing this, the most spectacular development was in respect of parcel traffic, both air and surface, which necessitated a complete reorganization of parcel circulation and the formation of many new despatches.

3. The considerable development of Kowloon and the New Territories, as well as the erection of multi-storey buildings and housing estates in various areas, caused many delivery problems, and a survey carried out during the year showed that efficient delivery services could only be maintained by an increase of delivery postmen. These have now been recruited, and after training will give relief to the many overloaded delivery areas. The continuous building programme will no doubt continue to add to our delivery problems, but steps have been taken to keep the position under constant review.

A.

The number of wireless licences issued also showed a marked increase especially towards the end of the year. This was no doubt caused by the reorganization of the Wireless Licensing Section and the more severe penalties imposed on persons found to be operating wireless receivers without licences. In fact, for the first time in many years, the number of wireless licences in use at the end of the year exceeded the recorded number of Rediffusion subscribers.

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