Post_Office_1969-1970 — 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 radio-wave regulation. The Postmaster General is the nominated Telecommunications Authority for Hong Kong under the Telecommunications Ordinance. The year under review saw the commencement of the Department's 129th year of operation.

2. Hong Kong was honoured to serve as the venue for a conference, held from the 23rd-25th September, of Commonwealth delegates to the Universal Postal Union Congress, which is customarily held prior to the Congress itself in order to discuss questions of mutual interest.

3. The spectacular growth in our business reported last year was more than sustained in keeping with the rising levels of commercial and industrial activities in Hong Kong. Outward letter and parcel services by air were pre-eminent and contributed correspondingly to increases in both revenue and expenditure to unprecedented levels.

4. The increasing use of the local service which was noted last year has continued although at a slightly reduced rate. The average daily intake of articles for inland delivery at the year end was about a quarter of a million.

5. The Lunar New Year issues of postage stamps continue to be popular. The two stamps designed to register the Year of the Dog, and incorporating the portraits of a local champion, were especially well received.

6. In line with the general world trend, the demand for all types of telecommunication services increased during the year. The internal telephone service continued to expand rapidly with the introduction of new telephone exchanges, the extension of existing exchanges and the development of the telephone cable distribution network. The introduc- tion of the latest techniques has resulted in enhanced reliability and a high grade of service.

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