Post_Office_1959-1960 — Page 12

lighters are in hand. This mechanization would provide a more efficient means for handling the volume of mails consigned to and from the railway and the Kowloon Offices. Consideration was also given to installation of a conveyor system from Blake Pier to join the Connaught Road bridge system.

AIR MAIL

45. Parcels posted for transmission by air showed a marked increase in number, indicative of the greater use which continues to be made of the air mail services, particularly by the commercial houses for sending samples in their efforts to boost the trade of Hong Kong.

46. The schedules of the various air line companies operating to and from Hong Kong were continuously studied, as well as the schedules of services operating at connecting overseas points, to ensure that the best services and routes were being used. Daily services available to many destinations were used throughout the year and additional jet services were introduced by some air line companies, resulting in the speedier transmission of air mail correspondence along the jet routes. A total of seventy four destinations continued to be served by direct air mails. The estimated number of items posted marked a further record total of 17,697,700 as compared with the previous year's total of 16,126,514.

47. Direct air mail despatches were received for the first time from Aden, Brunei, Caracas, Delhi, Fukuska, Jesselton, Kuching and Port Moresby.

CHINA MAILS

48. The quantity of mail despatched to and from China by way of the Kowloon Canton railway, using through mail wagons, showed a very considerable increase, a total, including Hong Kong and transit mails, of 230,518 bags being handled as against a total of 175,745 in the previous year. This marked increase was more particularly notice- able towards the end of the year when large numbers of small packets were posted to China.

49. The mail service to and from China by rail had to be suspended for two weeks from 15th June to 29th June, 1959 due to damage to the railway in China from floods. During the period of suspension sea transport was utilized for conveying mails by both the Hong Kong and Canton Post Offices. Normal train despatches to and from China were resumed on 30th June, 1959.

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