ENG-1996 — Page 430

338

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

handling airline containers and a comprehensive mail conveying system to speed up the processing and transportation of various categories of mail.

To further enhance efficiency and lower operating costs, the Post Office continued to introduce more mechanisation and automation equipment. Two Culler-Facer- Cancellers were installed, one at the General Post Office and the other at the International Mail Centre, to automate the handling of mail items collected from street posting boxes. The machines can detect and cancel stamps on letter-size items and automatically segregate them into local and overseas letters by detecting the phosphor-tagged stamps affixed on them.

To reduce the response time in handling customer enquiries, a computerised system is being developed for the tracking and tracing of Speedpost, registered letters and parcels. The system will also automate the accounting work with carriers and overseas postal administrations. The first phase of the system for tracking Speedpost is due for completion in October 1997. The remaining phases for tracking mail bags, registered, recorded delivery and insured mail and parcels are planned to be completed within the following two years.

To meet the needs of Hong Kong's business community in outsourcing bulk printing of bills and statements, the Post Office plans to develop a Hybrid Mail Service which produces for customers physical mail from data stored on tape or transmitted electronically to the Post Office. A consultant conducted a feasibility study on the market demand for this service.

A pilot 'Postshop' was set up in December 1996 with a view to widening the scope of retail services and providing convenience to customers in the purchase of postal stationery and souvenir items.

The Post Office issued five sets of special stamps during the year. These featured the Year of the Rat, the 1996 Olympic Games, archaeological finds of Hong Kong, Hong Kong mountains and Hong Kong urban heritage. Special stamp sheetlets were also issued to commemorate the 'Serving the Community' week and Hong Kong's success at the Olympic Games respectively.

Several stamp products were issued as a run-up to the Hong Kong '97 Stamp Exhibition to be held from February 12-16, 1997. These included three $10 definitive stamp sheetlets and a set of hologram postcards with six different designs.

The Post Office also participated in three international stamp exhibitions overseas to promote the collection of Hong Kong stamps and to heighten international awareness of the Hong Kong Post Office.

Hong Kong has a high international reputation for its efficient postal service. The Hong Kong Post Office has been playing an active role in the Universal Postal Union (UPU), and the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU), and has participated in various postal meetings and conferences. During the year, the Hong Kong Post Office attended meetings of the UPU Postal Operations Council, the UPU Direct Mail Advisory Board and the UPU Express Mail Service Contract Management Team, the APPU Executive Council Meeting and the 11th Conference of Commonwealth Postal Administrations.