66. Visits by school children and others continued at intervals throughout the year. The Post Office welcomes these visitors, the keen interest they show and the letters of appreciation which the school children in particular never fail to send to us afterwards.
67. A total of 189 Stamp Vendor Licences were issued to persons located throughout the Colony, including the New Territories, in order to facilitate the purchase of stamps, particularly in the rural districts, until such time as Post Offices can be erected to cover all areas.
68. The payment of fees charged for Certificates of Origin issued by the Commerce and Industry Department by means of postage stamps or licensed postage meter impressions was introduced on 1st March, 1958.
RADIO LICENCES AND INSPECTION
69. The total number of licences of all kinds in force at 31st March, 1958, was 66,801 of which 66,134 were Broadcast Receiving Licences, showing an increase of 5,558 as compared with the number of licences in force at the end of March 1957. The small force available for check- ing that all wireless sets are licensed severely limited the number of inspections which could be carried out.
REDIFFUSION
70. During the year a franchise was granted by Government to Messrs. Rediffusion Limited to operate a Wired Vision Service. The service was brought into operation on the 29th May, 1957, and Royalties for the period ending 31st March, 1958, amounted to $27,768.50.
71. Royalties received by Government from Messrs. Rediffusion Limited for wired sound totalled $913,684.50, an increase of $61,527.50 over the previous year.
COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING
72. Government called for tenders for the operation of a Commercial Broadcasting Station during the year. The station had not yet been brought into operation by the successful applicant at the end of the year under review. Separate English and Chinese programmes will be maintained by the station.
WIRELESS SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS
73. Surveys and inspections of ship installations were continued in accordance with the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea
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