61. 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.
62. Cable & Wireless Ltd. provide international telephone and telegraphic services under the terms of the licence granted to them. They also provide and maintain various external circuits and other telecommunication facilities for the Government.
63. The Post Office is responsible for the issue of licences and the regulation of services as specified in the Telecommunications Regula- tions. It also advises the Government on general technical issues con- cerning the provision of all types of services, including the operation of the public telephone network, the provision of external telecommunica- tion 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 Post Office also provides a maintenance facility for miscellaneous telecommunications and electronic equipment operated by Government Departments.
Licensing and Inspection
64. The demand for mobile radio systems is still increasing and 105 new applications for systems were received. Of this number 45 applicants are awaiting availability of equipment and are not yet in service. There are now 2,805 licensed mobile installations in operation, served by 339 base stations.
65.
The numbers of licences of all types current as at 31st March, 1972, are shown in Appendix VII.
66. Inspections of all types of equipment were carried out by the Inspectorate staff and 237 prosecutions were conducted against persons found contravening the Ordinance, with the following results:
Type of Licence
Y
Total Amount of Fines $ 4.786 14,620 1,590 250
Number Convicted
149
74
9
2
***
1
50
3
250
238
$21.546
Broadcast Television Receiving Licence Radio Dealer Licence
Industrial Welders (ISMEM Licence)... Mobile Radio System Licence...
Unlicensed Citizen Band Equipment Unlicensed Radio Microphone
Equipment
Total
10