ENG-1959 — Page 310

COMMUNICATIONS

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96 compared with 90. The number of places from which parcel mails were received increased to 36 by air and 65 by sea.

650 tons of mail were handed to air lines for transportation during the year. Of this figure, no less than 300 tons originated in Hong Kong.

All records for Christmas postings both local and for oversea destinations were shattered; more than a million items being post- ed on two separate days during the ten-day period preceding Christmas. The aggregate postings during that period exceeding six and half million articles.

The value of remittance business was $10,742,796 against $10,609,527 in 1958, a much less spectacular increase than that reported last year.

Revenue receipts, which totalled $39,918,201, advanced by more than $6,000,000. Receipt stamps to a value of $4,222,595 and Wireless Licences at $2,074,631 also showed substantial increases.

Radio Licensing. The Wireless Division of the Post Office is responsible for the issue of all types of radio licences, including those for amateur wireless stations and radio dealers. The number of broadcast receiving licences in force on 31st December was 94,900 as against 71,631 on 31st December 1958. This represents an increase of 32.5%. 1,034 other licences were also issued as against 865 in 1958.

This division conducts examinations for the Postmaster Gen- eral's Certificate for proficiency in Wireless Telegraphy, and car- ries out the survey and inspection of wireless apparatus on both ships and aircraft. In addition, examinations are carried out on behalf of the Marine Department for the Ministry of Transport's Radar Maintenance Certificates. Another function is the enforce- ment of the regulations made under the International Telecom- munication Convention (Atlantic City, 1947) and the Hong Kong Telecommunication Ordinance (Chapter 106).

The Wireless Division maintains a close liaison with the Hong Kong Communications Board and its Frequency Assignment Committee on all matters affecting the Colony's internal and external telecommunications.

Stamp Competition. The Government announced in February 1958 that a new issue of stamps of all denominations would be