The number of paid radio-telegrams forwarded during the year was 72,153 consisting of 708,282 words against 38,422 consisting of 322,041 words in 1928, and 85,571 were received consisting of 817,571 words against 51,951 consisting of 478,109 words, representing a total increase in the number of messages of 74% and words 91%.
In addition to the paid traffic figures given above the wireless service is responsible for the reception of time signals daily from Bordeaux, Rugby, Malabar and Nauen, for the transmission of time signals to ships in the China Sea, the reception of press messages amounting to 396 messages 222,088 words from Rugby, the collection and distribution of meteorological traffic, having forwarded 4,297 messages 272,985 words, and received 10,915 messages 219,441 words, the reception of Saigon Health Bulletins once weekly, the reception and dissemination of distress, piracy and navigation messages, the transmission and reception of Government messages etc., etc.
CABLES.
The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company (British) by means of three cables to Singapore, one direct and one each via Labuan and Cape St. James respectively, provide good connections with Europe via India, with Australasia, and with the other British Colonies and possessions. By their cable to Manila connection is made with the direct American cable, thence to San Francisco. Two cables to Shanghai, belonging respectively to the Eastern Extension and to the Great Northern (Danish) Companies, via Foochow and Amoy respectively, give a good connection with Shanghai, North China, Japan and Russia; and the system of the Great Northern Telegraph Co. gives a good service to Europe via Asiatic Russia.
TELEPHONES.
Telephonic communication, provided by the Hong Kong Telephone Co., is available to most parts of the Colony.
VI. Justice, Police and Prisons.
Serious crime in 1929 showed a slight increase over 1928—5349 cases against 5201. Minor crime showed an increase—15792 cases against 14409 cases in 1928. There was an increase in House and Godown Breaking, Larcenies and Robberies, but a decrease in Larceny in Dwelling, Larceny on Ships and Wharves and Burglaries. In the minor offences there was an increase of 1383.
There was an increase of 1 murder and 15 robberies. There was an increase of 7 robberies in the New Territories.
Arms. There were 6 arms seizures of note during the year, the largest of which was on board S.S. Haiching where 111 Automatic pistols and over 11,000 rounds ammunition were found.