Over 86 percent of people did not support the monopoly enjoyed by the State Postal Bureau in the survey of over 700 people in Beijing and Shanghai.

The survey was undertaken earlier this month just after the shake-up of the country's express delivery service market.

Local and foreign-owned companies which illegally provided letter and parcel delivery services were closed by postal officials.

These closures have fanned the public's long-existing resentment towards the State Postal Bureau's monopoly, according to the report. Nearly 30 percent of surveyed people thought that the bureau did not have the right to close companies offering parcel delivery services. Only 13.5 percent of people supported the bureau's actions.

The survey also found that most people (64.3 percent) were satisfied with the Express Mail Service (EMS) offered by the bureau.

But there was still room for improvement in the EMS service. Only 22 percent of people were satisfied with the price offered by the bureau.

The survey found joint-venture express delivery companies, including DHL Worldwide Express and United Parcel Service, are becoming increasingly popular in China.

About 13.8 percent of surveyed people used their on-time delivery services, and 11.3 percent used their door-to-door services. Small express parcel delivery companies were even more popular, with about 20.8 percent people using their door-to-door services, and 20.5 percent pleased with their prices, according to the survey.

(Xinhua News Agency 07/03/2001)