CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 280

-7-

271

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.