COMMUNICATIONS
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addition, the 65 cents and $1 values of the definitive set were replaced in September by new stamps. Both stamps depart from the standard 'Annigoni Portrait' of the other values.
The 65 cents stamp depicts the Hong Kong flower emblem, the Bauhinia Blakeana, and the $1 value the Armorial Bearings of the Colony. Each is a multicolour production of high quality. A new style Christmas Aerogramme, designed by a local artist, was manu- factured in Hong Kong for sale to the public at 10 cents. New postage stamp issues are growing increasingly popular with collectors and post offices were crowded with people wishing to post first-day covers on the first day of each issue.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Telecommunications Division of the Post Office licenses and inspects telecommunication installations operating under the Tele- communication Ordinance, investigates interference to telecom- munication services and monitors radio transmissions to ensure that they comply with the conditions of licence. The division also acts as adviser to government departments on telecommunication matters and co-ordinates their telephone service requirements.
Overseas communications are provided by Cable and Wireless Limited. Hong Kong is linked by an 80-channel submarine telephone cable, westwards to Singapore and eastwards to Guam, from where telegraph, telex and telephone circuits extend to all parts of the world.
In addition to the underseas cables, HF radio circuits connect to 16 countries in the region giving a current total of 205 telegraph and 134 telephone circuits terminating in Hong Kong.
In order to handle the increasing amount of telegraph traffic, a computer has been installed in Mercury House during 1968. This has a capacity of 12,000 messages per hour and can store 130,000,000 telegraph characters. The message switching computer will be on line in January 1969.
Cable and Wireless Limited is also installing a Satellite Earth Station to work initially with the INTELSAT III Satellite over the Pacific. The Earth Station is situated on Stanley Peninsula and should be ready for service by the middle of next year. It will have