
************************************************************
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, visited the General Post Office today (October 9) in support of the Free Post Day organised by Hongkong Post. This is the fourth time Hong Kong's postal service has invited people to express feelings of love and care by means of a personal letter, free of postage, to someone in Hong Kong.
Hongkong Post is considered to be among the best performers in the world in delivering mail and it has taken the opportunity of the World Post Day to promote the unique means of communication of letter writing.
Accompanied by the Postmaster General, Mr Tam Wing-pong, and other Hongkong Post colleagues, Mr Ma toured the mail sorting centre and the counter office of the General Post Office. Showing his support to the meaningful activity and the postal service, Mr Ma presented a letter to all Hongkong Post staff members, commending the high quality and reliability of the postal service, encouraging them to continue with their efforts. Mr Ma also posted a free personal letter.
The visit culminated in a tea reception in which Mr Ma met Hongkong Post's staff representatives.
During the day, people, young and old, posted their "free" letters to friends and relatives. Some expressed gratitude for help given, many expressed love for family and friends, and a large number showed their appreciation of Hongkong Post's efforts to promote letter-writing as a unique means of personal communication.
World Post Day is celebrated each year on October 9, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969. Many countries around the world participate annually in the celebration.
Ends/Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:30
NNNN