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COMMUNICATIONS
Kong can be connected to any of the nearly 100,000 subscribers in other parts of the world for direct and instantaneous exchange of typed messages.
Other Services. Cable and Wireless Limited also maintain various other telecommunication services such as radiotelegraph and radiotelephone services with ships at sea, phototelegraph service with certain countries, VHF harbourphone service with ships in Hong Kong harbour, meteorological and news broadcasts, and other ancillary services, such as deskfax, teleprinter and phonogram, and the internal telegraph service. They lease wireless circuits to airlines and other organizations for private use. They are responsible for the technical maintenance of the Government broadcasting, aeradio and meteorological radio services and the VHF communications of various Government departments. A $4,800,000 programme to improve Cable and Wireless telegraph and telephone contact with the rest of the world was begun in 1962. A new transmitting station under construction at Cape D'Aguilar will house 22 high frequency transmitters, while the Mount Butler receiving station is being enlarged for the installation of new receivers. Harbourphone facilities for ships in port have been greatly improved. The total number of subscribers' units available for hire has been increased by 200 per cent and two additional exchanges have been set up.
Telephones. Telephone service in the Colony is provided by the Hong Kong Telephone Company, Limited, a public company operating under a franchise from Government. In addition to the internal service the company! in conjunction with Cable and Wireless, provides services to most countries and to ships in the harbour and at sea. The Telephone Company's system, which is fully automatic, comprises some 140,000 stations served from eight major exchanges and a number of satellite exchanges. Rentals are charged on a flat rate basis of $300 and $225 a year for business and residential lines respectively. No charge is made for individual calls except to and from the New Territories.
The cost of the service to subscribers is probably the lowest in the world and the demand for telephones continued. In order to meet it the Telephone Company have ordered, or are installing, some 92,000 lines of exchange equipment, together with large- scale duct and cabling schemes. Three new buildings to house
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