XN000022-1975-09-21 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1975

ON AVERAGE, THIS NETWORK HANDLES ABOUT 10,000 MESSAGES A DAY OR SEVEN MESSAGES A MINUTE. THIS HANDLING RATE IS ACHIEVED BY A SOPHISTICATED MESSAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH CAN DECODE AND PROCESS INCOMING MESSAGES AT SPEED, BEFORE RELAYING THEM TO THE DESIRED DESTINATION ACCORDING TO THE DEGREE OF URGENCY AND PRIORITY.

THE FIXED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL TO AIRLINES IN OBTAINING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE FLIGHTS, AND IN TRANSMITTING RESERVATION AND OTHER FLIGHT INFORMATION TO THEIR OFFICES AT NEIGHBOURING AIRPORTS.. FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES, THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT CHARGES THE AIRLINES FEES WHICH ARE ON A PAR WITH COMMERCIAL RATES. THE NETWORK IS ALSO USED IN CO-ORDINATING. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.

THE BROADCAST SERVICE, TRANSMITTING AT 30-MINUTE INTERVALS, DISSEMINATES ACTUAL AND FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS NOT ONLY FOR HONG KONG BUT FOR SPECIFIC AIRPORTS IN ADJACENT AREAS. IT IS ALSO USED TO ADVISE OF THE UNSERVICEABILITY OF NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES. THE WEATHER BROADCASTS CAN BE RECEIVED BY AIRCRAFT. FLYING WITHIN A 1,000 MILE RADIUS OF HONG KONG.

A COMMUNICATOR'S JOB IS NOT EASY, A CAD SPOKESMAN SAID. +IT DEMANDS GREAT CONCENTRATION AND ONE HAS GOT TO REMAIN ALERT AT ALL TIMES.+

THE POST WAS FORMERLY RESTRICTED TO MEN, AND IT WAS ONLY RECENTLY THAT GIRLS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR TRAINING AS COMMUNICATORS. THE FIRST BATCH OF FOUR GIRL-TRAINEES TOGETHER WITH THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS ARE NOW UNDERGOING A YEAR'S TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM FOR THIS CHALLENGING JOB.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING A SECTION OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTRE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, 6TH FLOOR.

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