76. The total revenue of the Radio Licensing and Inspection Branch for 1955/56 was $1,885,186, an increase of $338,459 over 1954/55.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
77. Telephones. The Hong Kong Telephone Company, Limited, provides and operates the internal Public Telephone Service in the Colony. In co-operation with Cable & Wireless Limited, the service is extended by Radio Telephone and is avail- able to most parts of the world. At 31st March, 1956, the number of Direct Exchange Lines working on the Company's system was approximately 39,600 and the number of Extensions. was 17,400 making a total of approximately 57,000 Stations.
78. During 1955, a new automatic exchange of 5,400 lines was brought into service to serve Kowloon subscribers and a new exchange of 1,000 lines was installed to serve the Peak District.
79. During the year, work was begun on the foundations of a multi-storey building intended to house a new automatic exchange of 12,000 lines. This exchange is designed to serve the Western District of Victoria and installation will commence when the building is completed in 1956.
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
80. Cable and Wireless Limited is responsible for all telegraph and radiotelephone services between Hong Kong and countries overseas, for telegraph and radiotelephone services with ships at sea, and for a V.H.F. service with ships anchored in Hong Kong harbour. In addition they provide a service for internal telegrams on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories.
81. The Company is also responsible for the technical main- tenance and development of the Colony's broadcasting and Aeradio services, meteorological radio services and the V.H.F. communications of various Government departments.
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