Post_Office_1962-1963 — Page 7

INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY

THE Post Office Department operates internal postal services within the Colony and worldwide external services by sea and air. The Telecom- munications Division is concerned with the application of the provisions of the Telecommunications Ordinance and also gives advice to Govern- ment departments on telecommunication matters.

2. Keeping pace with the tremendous growth and development that have marked Hong Kong business and industry in recent years, the Department has worked hard to maintain an efficient organization to handle the increasing amount of postal business with speed and economy. The year under review was no exception, substantial increases being recorded in all regular classes of business. There was a decline only in the number of small packets posted to China which over the year amounted to more than two and a half millions and more than offset the financial gains made on other traffic. Even this decline was seasonal and by December the volume had increased again to an all-time record of seventy one thousand bags.

3. The completion of three new offices in areas virtually unserved hitherto and the re-provisioning of the office at Aberdeen represent the first fruits of the comprehensive development plans on which the Department has been engaged. Substantial progress was also made to- wards the development of eight other offices.

4. The centenary of the first issue of Hong Kong stamps occurred during the year and was fittingly marked by an exhibition at the City Hall featuring Hong Kong stamps-an event unique in the Department's history and by a commemorative stamp issue. These events and the new definitive stamp issue have served to stimulate the interest of philatelists the world over in Hong Kong stamps.

5. The Department was much involved in telecommunications developments both within the Colony and externally. A much needed revision of the Telecommunications Ordinance and Regulations was carried out. In April 1962 Mr. A. G. CROOK the Postmaster General and Mr. R. V. TALBOT-JONES, Chief Controller Telecommunications, represented Hong Kong at a conference in Tokyo which was called to discuss a plan to construct a submarine telephone cable linking a number

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