26. The Canton/Hong Kong route is still extensively used as an outlet by the U.S.S.R. for all destinations in the Far East as reflected in a still further increase in bags received from 62,301 to 70,972.
27. Normal services were maintained to Formosa (Taiwan).
Airmails
28. The general tendency to transfer from surface to airmail continues at a much increased tempo to the extent that a drop in "Posted" correspondence by surface of 877,890 items is more than offset by an increase of no less than 1,871,958 in "Posted" airmail items, in each case excluding parcels.
29. The number of ordinary airmail items at 14,616,208 represented an increase of 1,854,758 over the previous year. There was also a heavy increase in air parcel traffic from 105,024 in 1955/56 to 122,224 in the year under review.
30. Several new direct air despatches were introduced, mainly on the South American and African routes. Additionally, a new service was opened to Hoihow by rail to Canton and thence by air.
31. There was a touch of humour and the unexpected in the only case of damage to airmails in that the damage was occasioned by a baby elephant being transported by air. In this case it was considered the laws of nature were superior to postal laws.
Parcel Post
32. There was a heavy increase in surface parcel traffic from 621,507 in 1955/56 to 739,786 in the current year, or no less than 19%.
33. Increases were apparent to practically all destinations, the heaviest, probably due to a relaxation in restrictions, being to the U.S.A. which increased from 156,175 in 1955/56 to 202,382 in 1956/57. There was a slight drop in traffic to the United Kingdom chiefly due, it is thought, to the Suez disruption.
Registration and Insurance
34. Records in this sphere were again broken in no uncertain manner with an aggregate increase of 196,397. The steady
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