ENG-1975 — Page 206

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

141

country of destination, where they are specially handled to ensure quick delivery. Provided there is no substantial delay to aircraft, the service offers delivery to any part of the United States within 48 hours from the time of collection in Hong Kong, and this time is considerably shortened for items despatched to the West Coast. A reciprocal 'on demand' speedpost service-which is non-contractual was inaugurated with the United States and Britain during the year. This has met the needs of business people who do not have a regular, pre-determined requirement for the ultra-fast transmission of documents.

The express mail service which began in 1974 now operates on a reciprocal basis with nearly 100 countries. During the year, some 335,000 items were despatched from Hong Kong in this service.

On April 1, 1975, changes were introduced in postage rates for local letters, for the registration service, and for surface letters to China, Macau and Taiwan. The most significant change was the increase in the one-ounce internal letter rate from 10 cents to 20 cents. This rate had remained unaltered for 26 years and, even at 20 cents, it is one of the cheapest internal postage rates in the world. The rate to China, Macau and Taiwan was increased from 20 cents to 30 cents for a one-ounce letter, with corresponding increases for heavier letters. The registration fee for internal and overseas items was increased from $1 to $2.

In most areas of Hong Kong there are two mail deliveries a day, Monday to Saturday inclusive. The Post Office aims to deliver mail not later than one working day after the date of posting. This target is estimated to be achieved for about 98 per cent of all mail posted, the shortfall occurring mostly in the rural areas and some residential areas where the volume of mail does not justify more than one delivery a day.

A new post office was opened during the year at Wong Chuk Hang, bringing to 70 the number of post offices in operation throughout Hong Kong. This includes a mobile post office which provides postal services to remote parts of the New Terri- tories. Agency services carried out on behalf of other government departments in 1975 included the payment of social welfare benefits to more than 93,000 people a month. The number was about 37 per cent higher than in 1974, which was itself 70 per cent up on 1973. The upsurge in this work has put a severe strain on post office counter services, resulting in some deterioration in the quality of counter service at some offices.

There was steady progress on the construction of the new General Post Office building, which is scheduled for commissioning in the middle of 1976. Construction of the proposed international mail centre was deferred in the re-phasing of major government projects. However, Phase I of this project-consisting of the loading bay, railway platform and store-was started, because of the urgent need to provide facilities for the handling of mail to and from China at the new railway terminus in Hung Hom.

There were three issues of commemorative postage stamps in 1975. Two stamps were issued in February to mark the Lunar New Year the Year of the Rabbit. This