COMMUNICATIONS
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shopping and restaurant facilities, and the provision of air-bridges for the rapid loading and unloading of aircraft up to the size of the Boeing 747.
Improved facilities for the expeditious handling of rapidly in- creasing air cargo traffic are equally essential, and work is already well advanced on extensive modifications to the existing cargo terminal, designed almost to double its present capacity. This is however looked upon as an interim measure only, and consultants have been engaged to advise on the type of cargo handling complex best suited to Hong Kong's long-term need.
Responsibility for the supervision of all aspects of civil aviation in the Colony rests with the Director of Civil Aviation. Full operational services are provided, including air traffic control, telecommunications, air sea rescue, airport fire service, aeronauti- cal information service, aircraft registration and certification of airworthiness, personnel licensing and, in conjunction with the Royal Observatory, an aeronautical meteorological service.
There are two flying clubs in the Colony. The Hong Kong Flying Club operates a Beechcraft Musketeer and the Aero Club of Hong Kong a Cessna 172E Skyhawk and a Piper PA-28-140. The Far East Flying Training School offers full time courses of training in aeronautical engineering and electronics. Aircraft maintenance in Hong Kong is provided by the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, who offer overhaul and repair facilities for a wide range of aircraft including the latest jet airliners. Cathay Pacific, the Colony's own airline, offers services to India, Japan, Malaysia, Sabah, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea using Convair 880 aircraft. During the year passenger, freight, and mail figures showed increases over the previous year of 19.72 per cent, 37.84 per cent, and 8.62 per cent respectively.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY
The British Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway runs from the southern end of the Kowloon Peninsula to the Chinese frontier at Lo Wu where it joins the Chinese railway system, the northern bank of the Sham Chun River forming the international boundary at this point. Since 1949 passengers have had to change trains at