Regardless, the fact that the Audit Committee had to mention this suggests that there are larger problems with the current government process. Indeed, the government would have already issued instructions to all relevant parties and entities on the inclusion of national security provisions.
What is perhaps missing is a way to ensure that such government directives are complied with. So while this item on the Audit Committee’s list is easy enough for Hong Kong Post to check, there is no quick fix for government red tape.
04:19
Hong Kong passes domestic national security law, expedited bill shelved for 20 years
Hong Kong passes domestic national security law, expedited bill shelved for 20 years
The watchdog also highlighted that Hong Kong Post had “erroneously described” services to other parts of China as “international services” on its website, app, annual reports and notices. . References to Hong Kong and other parts of China.
In fact, it is hard to imagine Hong Kong Post making such a mistake. We all know that incorrect addresses can delay mail delivery. Geographical knowledge should be the post office’s strength.
Lumping the rest of the country together with other destinations under “international services” is a huge oversight. 26 years have passed since Hong Kong was returned to China. Indeed, Hong Kong Post doesn’t need reminding of that.
But these are not the biggest challenges facing Hong Kong Post, as the watchdog revealed in its report. Rather, it would be that Hong Kong would not be able to generate enough revenue to cover costs.
Like postal services around the world, Hong Kong Post continues to grapple with declining demand for traditional mail. Postmasters around the world are struggling to find other sources of income without impacting the public services they provide.
Hong Kong Post posted annual losses of up to HK$364 million in seven of the 10 financial years.
The company is striving to diversify its services and markets, with a focus on cross-border e-commerce and Belt and Road countries. But, for example, revenues from such e-commerce services are always lower than expected.
Is the postal service both a public service and a business? That is the question the government needs to answer. While the Audit Commission is right to point out that it could do a better job of determining whether there is actually demand for the new services the Postal Service wants to offer, the Postal Service Are you expecting too much from the business? Do you have the business acumen to tackle your revenue challenges?
Given Hong Kong Post’s apparent inability to submit accurate budget projections to the government, this seems unrealistic to say the least. “Actual revenues from regional e-commerce services were 69%, 64% and 71% below budgeted revenues in three fiscal years,” the audit committee said in its report.
Considering that Hong Kong Post needs to dispose of millions of old stamps worth and even managing its stamp inventory is difficult, we hope that Hong Kong Post will count the stamps carefully and at the same time show entrepreneurial spirit. Is it realistic to do so?
It is true that Hong Kong Post should be operating an independent service. But in a world where advances in technology have made snail mail almost obsolete, governments have a duty to step in to help cities think of other ways to reinvent their postal services, especially in terms of business development.
Alice Wu is a political consultant and former associate director of UCLA’s Asia-Pacific Media Network.
