Post_Office_1962-1963 — Page 18

73. The time-table for three major building schemes was reviewed. The offices affected were:

(a) Kowloon Central. This will house the administrative offices for Kowloon, the main public office, a sorting office and the training school. Site formation started during the year.

(b) New G.P.O. on the Central Reclamation. Authority was received to start the planning of this office. The berths on the new sea wall, which are the first part of the G.P.O. scheme, were completed.

(c) Colony Sorting Office at Hung Hom. This building will take

over work now done at G.P.O.

74. It is hoped that by careful phasing of the completion dates of these three offices the work now done at G.P.O. and Kowloon Post Office can be re-allocated so that our land requirements in the expensive central areas are kept to the minimum consistent with efficient working.

DEVELOPMENT

75. A second mobile post office for the New Territories was brought into used on 23.7.62. (The first was introduced on 14.3.60.) This necessitated a complete re-scheduling of the services but the result was more frequent calls at old stops and inclusion in the itinerary of several new villages. This is the completion of our mobile office programme. From now on permanent offices will be springing up to serve such towns and villages as Tuen Mun San Hui, San Tin and Kam Tin and as they are opened the mobile offices will be diverted to the remaining few isolated villages now without service.

76. Staff was authorized for the setting up of a training school and, after a set-back early in the year over premises, we had by the year end found suitable accommodation. When redecorated and fitted out this will serve us for the two years or so until Kowloon Central Post Office is ready.

77. A start was made on a review of the need for postal district numbering in the Colony. If the principle is accepted the introduction which will necessitate drawing up postal boundaries, altering postmen's duties, adding numbers to street names, compiling a gazetteer, informing overseas administrations, altering stationery and so on, will be spread over a year or two.

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