1978.
SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1978
TWO-WAY TELEX LINK INSTALLED AT PORT CONTROL CENTRE ****
NEW TELEX EQUIPMENT WHICH ENABLES THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH OTHER TELEX USERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE SHIPPING CIRCLE IN HONG KONG AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES, HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT INTO USE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S PORT CONTROL CENTRE.
THE NEW INSTALLATION IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL TO LOCAL SHIPPING AGENTS FOR SENDING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HONG KONG-BOUND SHIPS TO THE PORT CONTROL CENTRE WITH WHICH ALL OCEAN-GOING VESSELS MUST REGISTER ON ENTERING OR CLEARING THE PORT.
THE TELEX LINK ALSO IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT AS THE TIME CONSUMING PROCESS OF TAKING DOWN SHIPPING INFORMATION FROM LOCAL AGENTS OVER THE TELEPHONE, WHICH AT TIMES MIGHT CAUSE CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING, IS ELIMINATED.
+THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THE CASE OF SHIPS WITH DANGEROUS GOODS, WHOSE ENTRY MUST BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT 48 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL,+ MARINE OFFICER (COMMUNICATIONS), MR. P.J. WEAVER SAID TODAY.
+THE AGENTS AND COMPANIES CAN ALSO USE THIS TELEX LINK TO MAKE BUOY BOOK INGS, THUS SAVING A LOT OF OUR TIME AND MANPOWER PREVIOUSLY SPENT IN RECEIVING SUCH A REQUEST BY TELEPHONE.
+ IN ADDITION, THEY CAN USE THE TELEX MACHINE TO PASS INQUIRIES OR MESSAGES OF COMPLICATED OR TECHNICAL NATURE TO MARINE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT CAUSING CONFUSION OR MISUNDERSTANDING AS COULD OCCUR ON THE TELEPHONE,+ MR. WEAVER SAID,
IN TIME OF EMERGENCIES SUCH AS SHIP IN DISTRESS OR THE APPROACH OF A STORM, THE NEW EQUIPMENT CAN SPEEDILY DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO ALL THOSE CONCERNED.
MR. WEAVER SAID : +WHEN A VESSEL IS IN DIFFICULTY WITHIN OR NEAR HONG KONG'S TERRITORIAL WATERS, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE SHIPPING AGENTS CONCERNED, THE SALVAGE COMPANIES AND OTHER 'NEED TO KNOW* DISCIPLINED SERVICES SUCH AS ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND THE POLICE.
+THE DISADVANTAGES OF RELAYING SUCH INFORMATION BY TELEPHONE WHICH MIGHT BE MISTAKEN AND HAMPER OR DELAY SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS NOW NO LONGER EXIST WITH THE PASSING OF SUCH INFORMATION DIRECT BY TELEX,+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, THE TELEX SYSTEM HAS A BUILT-IN MINI-COMPUTER TC ENABLE IT TO STORE INCOMING OR OUTGOING MESSAGES UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
/5