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to understand the callers' requirements; frequent mis-
understandings and mistakes occur, wrong numbers are given,
attention to other calls is delayed and a general slowing
down of the operation of the system results.
(17). The Cantonese dialect is, I understand, a very
difficult one from the telephone point of view owing to the
similarity of sound when some of the numbers are pronounced.
The numbers "Yat" (1), "Teat" (7), and "Pat" (8); "Yee" (2),
and "Sze" (4); "Sam" (3) and "Sheung" (double) are
particularly confusing, and the difficulty is aggravated by
tendency on the part of the Chines to slur the numbers when
speaking on the telephone.
(18). For the new Central Exchange at Victoria it is
estimated that the initial equipment should be sufficient for
7000 Subscribers lines, and in order to shew a financial
comparison of the two Systems, I enclose statements marked
"A" and "B" giving estimated figures of Capital and Annual
charges for Manual and Automatic exchanges respectively.
Rent and Taxes and Administrative Charges are not included
From these as these items apply equally to both systems.
statements it will be seen that the capital cost of the Automatic installation is about 61% higher than the Manual while the annual charges, including interest on Capital, are
approximately 5.51% lower.
(19). The lower figure of annual charges for the Automatic ie mainly due to the elimination of the cost of the operators on the Manual system. In place of the operators provision is made for 22 mechanics (2 European and 20 Chinese) for routine testing and general maintenance work on the Automatic plant. With regard to the employment of Chinese mechanics, I am assured by Mr. Bennett that it will be possible to train such men for this work, and that under good European supervision they will perform the necessary duties satisfactorily. Marsh, Menager of the Hongkong Electric Co. Ltd. with whom
Mr.