Developments-Satellite Earth Station
101. The Company is building an earth station in Hong Kong, to be operational in June 1969. This will work initially with the Intelsat II Satellite over the Pacific to provide additional capacity between Hong Kong and countries in the Pacific area. The 85 ft. semi-steerable dish will be designed to survive in the stowed condition in winds of 210 m.p.h. It will have a capacity of 300 voice channels and will be capable of handling a television programme. The station is expected to cost about HK$40 million and will be capable of future expansion by the addition of a second dish to work with an Indian Ocean Satellite.
Computer
102. A message-switching computer will be operational by the end of 1968 to handle switching for the Public Telegraph Network and several airline signals centres. This is manufactured by UNIVAC Australia and is being installed in Mercury House.
Maritime Communications
103. Services are provided on H.F. and V.H.F. (Hague Plan) in connexion with ships' radiotelegrams, radiotelephone between shore and ship. Radiotelegrams are admitted to ships from any coast station, and radiotelephone calls between shore and ship are made in the same manner as are international overseas telephone calls. The service is available throughout the 24 hours daily either at a short range of about 200 miles or a greater distance with ships up to approximately 500 miles. The Cable and Wireless Coast Station is situated at Mount Butler Receiving Station.
Cable and Wireless Sub-Offices and Out-Stations
104. The Company has 7 sub-offices for the acceptance of telegrams, 3 on the Island and 4 on the Mainland. At all counters facilities are also provided for customers wishing to make overseas telephone calls. A phonogram service is operated from Mercury House, for both acceptance and delivery of telegrams.
105. Traffic figures for the year ended 31st March, 1968 are as follows:
Telegrams accepted for transmission Telegrams received
Telegrams handled in Transit
Telex calls-outward minutes
17
1,353,773
1,510,971
1,029,678
640,800
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