TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
55. The establishment and operation of telecommunication services in Hong Kong is subject to the provisions of the Telecommunications Ordinance, which is administered by the Postmaster General as the Telecommunications Authority.
56. The internal public telephone system is operated by the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited, under the terms of the franchise granted in the Telephone Ordinance.
57. Cable & Wireless Ltd. provide international telephone and telegraphic services to the Colony under the terms of the licence granted to them. They also provide and maintain various external circuits and other telecommunication facilities for the Government.
58. The Telecommunications Division is responsible for the issue of licences and the regulation of services as specified in the Telecom- munications Regulations. The Division also advises the Government on general technical issues concerning the provision of all types of services, including the operation of the public telephone network, the provision of external telecommunication facilities and television services. The Hong Kong Communications Board facilitates the co-ordination of all services with the Armed Forces and a committee of the Board is convened monthly to approve the allocations of radio frequencies for various purposes. The Division also provides a maintenance facility for miscellaneous telecommunications and electronic equipment operated by Government Departments.
Licensing and Inspection
59. As a result of increased activity of the Inspectorate, the number of unlicensed television broadcast receivers in operation was consider- ably reduced and the number of licences in force rose from 76,335 to 136,257, which is exclusive of receivers exempted under the Telecom- munications Exemption (Rediffusion Television Subscribers) Order 1968.
60. The demand for mobile radio system also showed a considerable increase and 73 new applications for systems were received. There are now 2,045 licensed mobile installations operating in the Colony, served by 281 base stations. The resultant tendency towards congestion of the
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