Post_Office_1966-1967 — Page 6

INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY

THE Post Office Department operates postal services within the Colony and participates in worldwide exchanges of mail by land, sea and air. It is responsible for postal remittance services and for such administra- tive functions as telecommunications control and radiowave regulations. The Postmaster General is the nominated Telecommunications Authority for Hong Kong under the Telecommunications Ordinance.

2. The Post Office experienced another year of expansion in practi- cally all spheres of its activities reflecting the continuous economic growth of the Colony and the prosperity of its people.

3. Training of graduates of Hong Kong Universities on the higher administrative duties of the Department continued during the year. Three are at present in training and the number will be increased to seven in the next financial year.

4. Revenue collections for the first time exceeded $100 million and the total business turnover a little under $220 million. The total value of postal orders issued and cashed rose by over $7 million to a total exceed- ing $63 million.

5. Four special stamp issues were made during the year, two being connected with events of an international nature and two which were of more local interest.

6. The total of private boxes held by members of the public at the end of the year was 12,498.

7. Mail traffic increased by 8% to a total of nearly 219 million items, a noticeable increase being shown in air mail traffic. In addition, a total of over 2 million parcels were handled and nearly 8 million registered and insured items.

8. Five new post offices were opened during the year and work continued on the planning of the New General Post Office, the new Kowloon Central Post Office, a Colony Sorting Office and an Overseas Mail Centre.

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