82. Licensed Postal Frankers were increased by ten whilst one licence was withdrawn. The total number of frankers now in use is 127.
RADIO LICENSING AND INSPECTION
83. The total number of licences of all kinds in force on 31st March, 1959 was 74.515 of which 73,727 were Broadcast Receiving Licences, an increase of 7,714 licences compared with the number of licences in force at the end of March 1958. The number of licences in force is however still considered unsatisfactory and it is obvious that a large number of persons operating wireless receivers, particularly the popular new transistor sets, are not in possession of valid wireless licences. Additional staff, vehicles, and equipment were authorized in the 1959/60 estimates to enable a more comprehensive house to house check to be made as well as of motor vehicles fitted with wireless receivers. It is intended to put this check into operation as soon as possible.
84. The Commercial Broadcasting Station authorized to be set up in 1957 had not been brought into operation by the end of the year under review but construction of the station in the Lai Chi Kok area of Kowloon is in progress. Separate English and Chinese programmes will be maintained by this station which it is hoped will be in opera- tion during the second half of 1959.
85. The development of a frequency modulated system of broadcast- ing by Radio Hong Kong is covered in the report of the Controller of Broadcasting.
WIRELESS SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS
86. In accordance with the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea and in conjunction with the 1952 Radio Regulations, surveys and inspections of ship installations were conducted by the department. 189 Ships' Radio installations were surveyed and 186 inspected. In addition, 75 ships' direction finders were calibrated.
87. The growth of the Hong Kong plastics industry resulted in the issue of a further twenty nine radio frequency plastic welding machine permits. This entailed the inspection of the equipment and imposed a further demand on the small Wireless Inspection staff which will how- ever be amplified during the next year.
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