View source for Hongkong Post

{{short description|Government department of Hong Kong}}
{{for|the newspaper|Hong Kong Post (newspaper)}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Hongkong Post
| logo = Hongkong Post Logo.svg
| logo_size = 240px
| type = [[Trading fund]]
| genre = [[Mail|Postal service]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1841}}
| founder = [[Royal Mail]]
| location_city = Hong Kong
| location_country = 
| location = [[General Post Office, Hong Kong|Hongkong Post Headquarters]],<br />2 [[Connaught Place, Hong Kong|Connaught Place]] [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/contact_us/index.html|title=Hongkong Post – Contact Us|publisher=hongkongpost.com}}</ref><!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" --><!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" -->
| origins = 
| key_people = Leonia Tai, Postmaster General and General Manager of the Post Office Trading Fund
| area_served = Hong Kong
| industry = [[Mail|Post]], [[philately]]
| products = Mail delivery, philatelic products
| services = [[Postal services]], philatelic services
| revenue = HKD$4,784,000,000 (2021/22)
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 5,951 (2022)
| parent = Government of Hong Kong
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| owner = [[Government of Hong Kong]]
| homepage = {{URL|https://hongkongpost.hk}}
| dissolved = 
| footnotes = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| t = {{linktext|香|港|郵|政}}
| s = {{linktext|香|港|邮|政}}
| j = Hoeng<sup>1</sup> Gong<sup>2</sup> Jau<sup>4</sup> Zing<sup>3</sup>
| y = Hēung góng yàuh jing
| p = Xiānggǎng Yóuzhèng
| altname = Post Office
| t2 = 郵政署
| s2 = 邮政署
| j2 = jau4 zing3 cyu5
| p2 = Yóuzhèngshǔ
}}
{{Politics of Hong Kong}}

'''Hongkong Post''' is a [[Government of Hong Kong|government department of Hong Kong]] responsible for [[postal services]], though operated as a [[trading fund]]. Founded in 1841, it was known as ''Postal Department'' or ''Post Office''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/corp_info/history/index.html|title=Hongkong Post – History|website=hongkongpost.hk|access-date=12 March 2017}}</ref> ({{zh|郵政署}}) before the [[handover of Hong Kong]] in 1997. It has been a sub-member of the [[Universal Postal Union]] since 1877, and is a separate entity from [[China Post]].

==History==
[[Image:HKGPO1911.jpg|thumb|[[General Post Office, Hong Kong|General Post Office]] circa 1911.]]
Merchants traded in [[Hong Kong]] on the two sides of [[Victoria Harbour]] as early as before the [[British Empire|British]] [[Treaty of Nanking|possession]] in 1842. They complained about the absence of proper postal services and therefore the Postal Department was established.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

The department was founded on 28 August 1841, but the first post office (known as 書信館 at that time), situated near the current site of [[St. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong|St. John's Cathedral]], opened on 12 November 1841. At first, its right to operation belonged to the [[Royal Mail]], until its transfer to the Postmaster General on 1 May 1860.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

On 8 December 1862, the office issued the first set of Hong Kong [[postal stamp]]s. Before this time, only British troops in Hong Kong could use British stamps, while other local residents did not have access to British stamps. Until the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, mail for British forces serving in the then-colony used the [[British Forces Post Office]] number, BFPO 1.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ziwdAQAAMAAJ&q=%22BFPO+1%22++ ''The Asian Press and Media Directory''], Press Foundation of Asia., 1980, page 80</ref>

The office introduced automated mail sorting in 1989, and machines were installed in the General Post Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nec.co.jp/control/en/product/postal/solution_inte.html |title=Postal Automation (Hong Kong)|publisher=NEC|access-date=23 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070416143154/http://www.nec.co.jp/control/en/product/postal/solution_inte.html |archive-date = 16 April 2007}}</ref>

There is no post code system in Hong Kong, although one has been under consideration since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200001/12/0112212.htm|title=Postal coding system in Hong Kong |publisher=NEC|access-date=7 September 2007}}</ref>

Since August 1995, the office has operated as a trading fund and the full title of the head of the Office became "Postmaster General and general manager of the Post Office Trading Fund" ({{zh|t=香港郵政署長兼郵政署營運基金總經理}}).{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

==Postal history==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2013}}
{{main|Postage stamps and postal history of Hong Kong}}
During the [[Colonial Hong Kong|colonial era]], Hong Kong produced postage stamps simply bearing the name ''Hong Kong'', printed alongside the likenesses (in profile) of the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom, or royal symbols (for example, "[[royal cypher|EIIR]]").

Since [[Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China]] in 1997, stamps issued have borne the name "Hong Kong, China". British Hong Kong postage stamps are no longer valid for prepayment of postage and cannot be repurchased by the Post Office.

==Post offices==
{{main|List of Hong Kong post offices}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2014}}
As of 2023, Hongkong Post operates 122 post offices (including 3 mobile post offices) throughout Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hongkong Post - Q1 |url=https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/faq_support/network/q1/index.html |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=www.hongkongpost.hk}}</ref> The detailed locations and opening hours of the post offices are on the Hongkong Post website.

== iPostal Kiosk ==
In mid-2021, Hongkong Post launched iPostal Kisok which offers an automated posting service and enables the public to post mail, purchase postage label and make postage enquiry round-the clock.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-23 |title=Technology confirms that the best is yet to come in Hongkong Post's 180-year public service history |url=https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/topics/smart-age-hongkong-post/article/3160407/technology-confirms-best-yet-come |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> As of July 2023, there are 23 kiosks located across the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Using tech to propel mail service |url=http://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2023/07/20230713/20230713_184301_929.html |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Hong Kong's Information Services Department |language=zh-hk}}</ref>

== Post boxes ==
Hong Kong imported post-boxes from the UK until the practice was discontinued in the 1980s. Before 1997, the [[post box]]es were painted red, as in the United Kingdom, and were engraved with the [[royal cypher]] – for example, "''EIIR''" to represent [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]. According to fans of Hong Kong's history, featuring the regal insignia on many of the [[George V]] and [[George VI]] post boxes in Hong Kong are unique as they are different in design from other British post boxes in the world.<ref name=20151005hkfp/> Since the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, the livery of the boxes became green, and were adorned with the new Hongkong Post logo.<ref name=20151005hkfp>{{cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/10/05/hongkong-post-to-cover-royal-cyphers-on-59-historic-post-boxes/|title=Hongkong Post to cover royal cyphers on 59 historic post-boxes to 'avoid confusion' |work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=5 October 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Hong Kong Post street posting box number 110.jpg|thumb|right|HongKong Post box bearing insignia of [[George V|King George V]], made during the colonial era, but painted in green from red after 1997]]
As of October 2015, there are 1,148 free-standing post-boxes in Hong Kong; only 59 colonial post boxes bearing the royal insignia were still in service.<ref name=20151005hkfp/> In late 2014 Hongkong Post reaffirmed its policy that the remaining 59 colonial-era post boxes would only be replaced if they were seriously damaged or no longer meet the demand of its customers.<ref name=20141021ejinsight>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20141021-hk-to-maintain-post-boxes-with-royal-crown/|title=Politically incorrect? HK to retain post boxes with royal crown|work=EJ Insight}}</ref>

=== Controversy ===
This department of government said in March 2015 that it was considering covering up the regal insignia on these post boxes, on grounds that it was "not desirable to have postboxes that show various royal cyphers from different British reigns" and to "avoid confusion". Controversy ignited in September upon confirmation that royal cyphers would be covered up by fixing metal plates on all but seven of the historical post boxes. The decision was decried by the [[Conservancy Association]], the Mailboxes Searching Team, and activists opposed to the push of pro-Beijing politicians to "de-colonialise" Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejinsight.com/20151005-hongkong-post-may-cover-up-british-insignia-on-old-mailboxes/|title=Hongkong Post may cover up British insignia on old mailboxes|work=EJ Insight}}</ref><ref name=20151012hkfp>{{cite web|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/10/12/commerce-and-economic-dev-bureau-ordered-post-office-to-cover-royal-cyphers-in-march-lawmaker-says/|title=Commerce and Economic Dev. Bureau ordered Post Office to cover royal cyphers in March, lawmaker says|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=12 October 2015 }}</ref> According to legislator Claudia Mo of the Civic Party, senior HK Post officials she talked with affirmed that the order to obscure regal insignia on the 59 colonial post boxes came from the [[Commerce and Economic Development Bureau]] (CEDB), which Mo said pointed to a political and not administrative decision.<ref name=20151012hkfp/>

==Services==
{{Economy of Hong Kong}}

===Post===
In addition to making its income from traditional postal delivery, Hongkong Post also sells [[philately|philatelic]] products, and is used by the Government and utility companies to accept payment from customers.

===Philately===
'''Hongkong Post Stamps''' was a division set up in 1974, charged with promoting and popularising stamp collecting, to meet the ever-increasing demand for Hong Kong stamps by collectors. The division conducts three main areas of work:

*stamp product design and production
*fulfilment and advance ordering service 
*philatelic marketing.

Owing to the territory's conservative stamp-issuing policy, stamp collecting in Hong Kong is a popular hobby. Different types of attractively designed stamp products are also popular with stamp collectors around the world.

===Root certificate===
Since 2000, Hongkong Post is a recognized root [[certificate authority]] and issues digital certificates under the [[trade name]] "e-Cert".<ref>{{cite web |title=About Hongkong Post e-Cert |url=https://www.hongkongpost.gov.hk/about/intro/index.html |access-date=27 August 2023}}</ref>

===Other===
[[Image:Hongkong Post AM2744 20070427.jpg|thumb|A [[SpeedPost]] delivery van]]
Hongkong Post also provides services listed below:

* ''Local [[Courier]] Post''
* ''[[Speedpost]]''
* [[Periodical]]s/Circular/[[Direct marketing#Direct mail|Direct mail]] services
* ''e-Post''
* ''e-Cert'' (Electronic Certificate for [[e-commerce]])
* ''e-Business''
* [[Franking machine]]
* Postal [[remittance]] service (to Canada, [[Mainland China]], [[Indonesia]], Japan, [[Nepal]] and the [[Philippines]])
* Electronic remittance service (through [[Western Union]])
* ''PayThruPost'' (Bill payment)
* Logistics, etc.

==Incidents==
{{more citations needed|date=April 2014}}
*In 2005, newspapers revealed the presence of [[pinhole camera]]s in Cheung Sha Wan Post Office, and this was perceived as a violation of people's privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200506/18/06180266.htm|title=Pinhole cameras installed in Cheung Sha Wan Post Office|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref> Hongkong Post explained that the cameras were necessary for facilitating police investigations into several suspected theft cases.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/720575/privacy-chiefs-spy-camera-run|title=Privacy chief's spy camera run-in|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=6 March 2018}}</ref>
*In March 2007, two postal staff lost three bags of mail, destined for Wan Chai and the [[Eastern District, Hong Kong|Eastern District]], in the management offices of Hongkong Post buildings. Although Hongkong Post eventually found one of the lost bags, 400 letters were reportedly lost.
*In December 2019, Hongkong Post made a notable announcement regarding a modification to one of its new stamp designs. The original design featured black-clad children and the Hongkong Post stated the changes were solely made for aesthetic reasons. But online commentators argued that this change was likely an attempt to avoid any resemblance between black-clad children with anti-government protesters at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stamping out protests? Hong Kong Post changes stamp featuring black-clad children {{!}} Coconuts |url=https://coconuts.co/hongkong/news/stamping-out-protests-hong-kong-post-changes-stamp-featuring-black-clad-children/ |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=coconuts.co/ |language=en-US}}</ref>
*As the demand for delivery services during the coronavirus pandemic surged since November 2020, scammers have cheated more than 100 Hongkongers out of HKD $2.2 million through phishing text messages and emails claiming to be from Hongkong Post.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-10 |title=Scammers steal HK$2.2 million with fake Hongkong Post messaging scheme |url=https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3124853/scammers-steal-hk22-million-fake-hongkong-post-messaging |access-date=2023-09-07 |website=Young Post}}</ref>

==Achievements==
* Winner of the 2005 "Hong Kong Awards for Industries – Productivity and Quality Award" for achievement in productivity enhancement and total quality management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/about/achievements/2006/02/pq/index.htm |title=Hongkong Post Wins the 2005 Hong Kong Awards for Industries – Productivity and Quality Award |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222223427/http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/about/achievements/2006/02/pq/index.htm |archive-date=22 February 2007  }}</ref>
* Winner of the Caring Organisation Logo 2005/06 by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
* Winner of the Gold Level Certification in the Universal Postal Union EMS Cooperative Audit and Measurement Programme 2005.
* Winner of the Web Care Award 2005 – Gold Prize from Internet Professional Association.
* [[Guinness World Record]] holder for the largest stamp mosaic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/publications/annual/2005_2006/section6c/index.htm |title=Promoting A Strong Brand Identity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928070545/http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/publications/annual/2005_2006/section6c/index.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007  }}</ref>

== List of Postmasters-General ==
[[File:List of Postmasters General, Hong Kong.jpg|thumb|A tablet displayed inside the [[General Post Office, Hong Kong]], showing a list of the Postmasters General of Hong Kong between 1841 and 2003]]
{|class=wikitable
|----- bgcolor="#FFFF99"
|#
|{{center|'''Name'''}}
|{{center|'''Date of Appointment'''}}
|{{center|'''Remarks'''}}
|-----
|1
| [[T. G. Fitzgibbon]]
| 25 August 1841
| Clerk-in-Charge
|-----
|2
| [[D. Mullaly]]
| 8 October 1841
| 
|-----
|3
| [[Robert Edwards (postal officer)|Robert Edwards]]
| April 1842
| 
|-----
|4
| [[F. Spring]]
| 1843
| 
|-----
|5
| [[Thomas Jackson Scales]]
| April 1844
| 
|-----
|6
| [[Thomas Hyland (postal officer)|Thomas Hyland]]<br/>海蘭
| 1846
|
|-----
|7
| [[William Chapman (postal officer)|William Chapman]]
| 14 May 1857
| 
|-----
|8
| [[Francis William Mitchell]]<br />蔑祖
| 24 November 1862
| 
|-----
|9
| [[Alfred Lister]]<br />李士達
| 24 April 1875
| 
|-----
|10
| [[Arthur Kennedy Travers]]<br />剌花士
| 1 January 1891
| 
|-----
|11
| [[Alexander MacDonald Thomson]]<br />譚臣
| 17 October 1896
| 
|-----
|12
| [[William Charles Holland Hastings|Cmdr. William Charles Holland Hastings]]<br />夏士廷
| 15 February 1899
| ''Died in office''
|-----
|13
| [[Lewis Audley Marsh Johnston]]<br />尊士頓
| 23 January 1903
| ''Died in office''
|-----
|14
| [[Charles McIlvaine Messer]]<br />馬沙
| 18 November 1908
| 
|-----
|15
| [[Edward Dudley Corscaden Wolfe]]<br />胡樂甫
| 19 April 1913
| 
|-----
|16
| [[Stewart Buckle Carne Ross]]<br />羅士
| 1 February 1917
| 
|-----
|17
| [[Michael James Breen]]<br />巴連
| 22 March 1924
| 
|-----
|18
| [[Geoffrey Robley Sayer]]<br />佘義
| 28 April 1928
| 
|-----
|19
| [[Norman Lockhart Smith]]<br />史美
| 12 October 1928
| 
|-----
|(17)
| Michael James Breen<br />巴連
| 7 February 1930
| ''Second time''
|-----
|20
| [[Eric William Hamilton]]<br />韓美頓
| 18 July 1931
| 
|-----
|(17)
| Michael James Breen<br />巴連
| 21 April 1932
| ''Third time''
|-----
|21
| [[William James Carrie]]<br />嘉利
| 3 June 1933
| 
|-----
|(17)
| Michael James Breen<br />巴連
| 22 February 1934
| ''Fourth time''
|-----
|22
| [[Henry Robert Butters]]<br />畢打士
| 23 March 1936
| 
|-----
|23
| [[Edward Irvine Wynne-Jones]]<br />榮鐘士
| 12 December 1936
|
|-----
|24
| [[Robert Andrew Dermod Forrest]]<br />富勵士
| 12 January 1940
|
|-----
|(23)
| Edward Irvine Wynne-Jones<br />榮鐘士
| 10 January 1941
| ''Second time''
|-
|
|colspan=3 align="center" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"|''Hong Kong under Japanese occupation from 25 December 1941 to 15 August 1945''
|-
|(23)
| Edward Irvine Wynne-Jones<br />榮鐘士
| 13 June 1946
| ''Third time''
|-----
|25
| [[John Henry Burkill Lee]]<br />李佐安
| 23 February 1948
|
|-----
|26
| [[Leonard Charles Saville]]<br />沙惠予
| 8 March 1950
|
|-----
|27
| [[Alfred George Crook]]<br />高旭
| 1 August 1958
|
|-----
|28
| [[Cecil George Folwell]]<br />符偉略
| 22 March 1968
|
|-----
|29
| [[Malki Addi]]<br />魏達賢
| 19 March 1971
| ''First non-European''
|-----
|30
| [[David John Kyle Bamford]]<br />潘富達
| 7 March 1977
|
|-----
|31
| [[Arthur Cyril Heathcote]]<br />許富國
| 8 January 1980
|
|-----
|32
| [[Hugh Gordon Ardley]]<br />歐德理
| 23 December 1982
|
|-----
|33
| [[Gordon Siu|Gordon K. C. Siu]]<br />蕭炯柱
| 18 March 1988
| ''First ethnic Chinese''
|-----
|34
| [[Dominic Wong|Dominic S. W. Wong]]<br />黃星華
| 18 September 1989
|
|-----
|35
| [[Michelangelo Pagliari]]<br />柏景年
| 11 May 1992
|
|-----
|36
| [[Robert Footman]]<br />霍文
| 20 November 1995
| ''Last expatriate''
|-----
|37
| [[Luk Ping-chuen]]<br />陸炳泉
| 24 November 1998
|
|-----
|38
| [[Allan Chiang|Allan Chiang Yam-wang]]<br />蔣任宏
| 31 March 2003
|
|-----
|39
| [[Tam Wing-pong]]<br />譚榮邦
| 10 July 2006
|
|-----
|40
| [[Clement Cheung|Clement Cheung Wan-ching]]<br />張雲正
| 14 September 2009
|
|-----
|41
| [[Jessie Ting|Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei]]<br />丁葉燕薇
| 3 October 2011
| ''First female''
|-----
|42
| [[Gordon Leung| Gordon Leung Chung-tai]]<br />梁松泰
| 10 July 2017
|
|-----
|43
| [[Cathy Chu|Cathy Chu Man-ling]]<br />朱曼鈴
| 9 September 2019
|
|-
|44
|Leonia Tai Shuk-yiu
戴淑嬈
|2 September 2021
|
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Hongkong Post Large Letter Box.JPG|A large letter box found at [[Tsim Sha Tsui]]
Image:HongkongPostVendingMachine.jpg|An ordinary [[Postage stamp|stamp]] [[vending machine]] located at a post office
Image:PLVM TSTPO.jpg|A postage label vending machine located at [[Tsim Sha Tsui]] Post Office. Postage labels are instantly-printed stamps with customisable or pre-set postage fees. It was discontinued and then removed in summer 2008.
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Hong Kong}}
* [[Chunghwa Post]]
* [[China Post]]
* [[CTT (Macau)|Correios de Macau]]
* [[List of postal services abroad]]
* [[:Category:Companies of Hong Kong|List of Hong Kong companies]]
* [[Royal Mail]] – operated in Hong Kong from 1841 to 1870

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* [[Stanley Gibbons]] Ltd.: various catalogues
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.askphil.org/b25.htm |title=AskPhil – Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms |access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523234545/http://www.askphil.org/b25.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/home.html |title=Encyclopaedia of Postal History |access-date=16 April 2007 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010153223/http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/home.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}
* Stuart Rossiter & John Flower: ''The Stamp Atlas''
* Webb, F. W. (1961) ''The Philatelic and Postal History of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan'', The [[Royal Philatelic Society London]]
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hongkong Post}}
* {{Official website|https://www.hongkongpost.hk|Hongkong Post official website}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://info.gov.hk:80/hkpo/|title=Hongkong Post}}
* [http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/e1bf50c09a33d3dc482564840019d2f4/f16ef98ef6ce23bcc82564800027d0cf?OpenDocument Chapter 98 POST OFFICE ORDINANCE in the Law of Hong Kong]
* [https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=208097064092315584558.00046ced54d8218175911&msa=0 香港舊郵筒地圖 Hong Kong Old Postboxes Map]

{{Commerce and Economic Development Bureau}}
{{Government of Hong Kong}}
{{China Postal System}}
{{Postal administrations of Asia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Postal organizations]]
[[Category:Hong Kong government departments and agencies|Post]]
[[Category:Postal system of Hong Kong| ]]
[[Category:Internet in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1841]]
[[Category:Hong Kong brands]]
[[Category:1841 establishments in the British Empire]]