The functions of the building may perhaps be best appreciated by a floor to floor description of the accommoda- tion provided.
The west side of the ground floor is occupied by the Delivery Department where telegrams for despatch are received from the upper floors, through pneumatic tubes, and where they are addressed by two automatic addressographs and passed on to messengers for delivery. Besides a large store room, the ground floor accommodates the Hongkong Electric Company's sub-station, and the engine room. The latter houses the main power switch boards, the central air conditioning plant and an emergency power generating unit- which can be switched on immediately should the city power supply fail and thus ensures self-sufficiency in power supply for all operational needs. The overseas subinarine cable terminals and the distribution room for all other cables are also found on the ground floor, at the rear of the building, from which they connect up to the receiving and transmitting equipment on the upper floors.
Public counter for reception of messages and
below, first floor plan.
View of wireless telegraph circuits.
northwest corner of the ground floor are located the public radiophone booths in an air-conditioned room.
The second floor is occupied entirely by the Instrument Room where the telegrams are received and transmitted. This room. which is on a 24-hour operational basis, is air- conditioned from the central plant, and has been acoustically treated to reduce the noise from the instruments and to create better working conditions for the large staff.
The third floor accommodates the Accounts Sections, the Teleprinters, the offices of the engineering staff and the Main Control Room. The Control Room houses the long distance radiophone installations which are in constant and direct contact with the Cable & Wireless radio stations. Adjacent to the Control Room is a Facsimile dark room, containing equip- ment for the radio transmission and receiving of photographs. This floor is also air-conditioned.
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The main public counter is located on the first floor, access to which is by means of two broad staircases finished off in vitrified stoneware tiles from the main entrance portico. Upon being received at the counter, the telegrams are despatched through pneumatic tubes to the Instrument Room on the second floor for transmission by cable or wireless to their final destinations. The counter itself, which is constructed in panelled teak, is of a special design to ensure maximum privacy and most efficient handling of the telegrams. At the
The Surgery.
On the fourth floor are situated the Technical Laboratory and a school for training wireless and cable operators.
The fifth floor contains the Administrative Offices and the staff clinic. All main rooms are air-conditioned by in- dividual air-conditioning units. The self-contained clinic comprises two waiting rooms, the doctor's consulting room, nurse's room and a fully equipped surgery. The surgery has an asphalt tiled floor and an 8-ft. glazed tiled dado. Metal and glass cabinets for instruments, built-in cabinets for medical stores, a built-in tiled working shelf, and special surgery basins are included in the amenities provided.
General view of Central Telegraph Office. Communicating messages are dealt with in the background, sorted and numbered, punched up in batches in the form of perforated tape, ready for transmission.
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