ENG-1991 — Page 350

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

294

The Telecommunications Branch of the Post Office supports the Telecommunications Authority in the execution of his functions. One of the most important functions carried out by the branch is the management of the radio spectrum to ensure that it is utilised efficiently. It also co-ordinates with the administrations of adjacent territories in sharing the radio spectrum in order to avoid radio interference.

The branch conducts examinations of radio operating personnel and issues certificates to suitably qualified persons in compliance with the International Radio Regulations. It also inspects radio and radar stations on ships.

The branch provides advisory and planning services to government departments and subvented institutions regarding their communication requirements, co-ordinates and regulates the use of radio communication sites, monitors the technical performance of broadcasting services and investigates complaints concerning reception quality.

Postal Services

The year 1991 marked the 150th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Post Office. During the year, a series of activities was held to commemorate the event, which included an exhibition in the Museum of History with the theme 150 Years of Postal Service in Hong Kong; issuing a special set of 150th Anniversary commemorative stamps; Anniversary supplements in two leading newspapers in the territory; Anniversary billboards at the General Post Office and the International Mail Centre; publishing a history and Anniversary stamp album; issuing commemorative phonecards by the Hong Kong Telephone Company and commemorative stored-value tickets by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation; a public concert, and a Families' Fun Day for Post Office staff.

Despite the steady increase in mail traffic in recent years, Hong Kong continues to maintain a very reliable and efficient postal service. Two mail deliveries a day are provided in mainly commercial and industrial areas, with one daily delivery in mainly residential areas. Most local mail is delivered within 24 hours of posting. Airmail items to overseas destinations are mostly despatched the same day if posted at the four main post offices before the latest time of posting, or are despatched within 24 hours if posted elsewhere.

In 1991, the Post Office handled 948 million letters and parcels (a daily average of 2.60 million), representing an increase of nine per cent over 1990. Approximately 9 094 tonnes of letter mail and 5 420 tonnes of parcels were despatched abroad by air, an overall increase of 5.5 per cent on 1990.

The Speedpost service, which provides a fast and reliable door-to-door collection and delivery service for customers sending time-sensitive documents, samples or merchandise, continued to grow significantly. The service is now available to 61 countries, including all Hong Kong's major trading partners such as Australia, Canada, China, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Germany. During the year 3.5 million items were handled, an increase of 7.2 per cent over 1990. This volume was second only to the United States Postal Service.

To keep pace with the expansion and development of new towns and to cope with the growth in demand for postal facilities, two branch post offices were opened during the year, bringing the total number of branch post offices to 118. With the completion of the new Eastern Delivery Office in February, the Shau Kei Wan and Tsat Tsz Mui Delivery Offices were reprovisioned to the new purpose-built delivery office. Cheung Chau Post Office and Sheung Wan Post Office were moved to larger premises to provide improved