XN000022-1978-07-23 — Page 9

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SUNDAY, JULY 23, 1978

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM FOR P.W.D. ******

A NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN MURRAY BUILDING WILL COME INTO OPERATION AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THE $120,000 SYSTEM WILL MODIFY THE EXISTING PABX UNIT AND PROVIDE DIRECT DIALLING ACCESS TO 800 TELEPHONES IN THE DEPARTMENT.

THE INCOMING LINE CAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED FROM 46 TO 50 WHILE THE EXISTING 48 OUTGOING LINES WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

ENGINEERS FROM THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLING THE WEST GERMAN EQUIPMENT, WHICH WILL COME INTO USE AT NOON, ON SUNDAY, JULY 30.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SAID THE MODIFICATIONS HAD BECOME NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY WORKLOAD THE PRESENT SYSTEM IMPOSED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S TELEPHONE OPERATORS. THIS FREQUENTLY CAUSED LONG DELAYS TO OUTSIDE CALLERS AND COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN NUMEROUS.

+THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ENABLE A CALLER TO RING DIRECT TO THE DESK OF THE OFFICER HE IS TRYING TO CONTACT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE SWITCHBOARD, HE SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS FOUR SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS AND IT IS HOPED THAT AFTER THE NEW SYSTEM BECOMES FULLY OPERATIONAL IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO RELEASE TWO OPERATORS FOR DUTIES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

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