TNAG-0360-FCO40-396-Visit-of-HRH-Princess-Alexandra-and-the-Hon-Angus-Ogilvy-to--1972 — Page 133

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Mr Moore,

Aviation and Telecommunications Dept.

Rank Xerox Ltd.

Mr Watson of Rank Xerox has been in touch by telephone to say that his firm will have a new "telephotocopier" machine on display at the British Industrial Exhibition in Hong Kong from 23 to 31 October. This machine relays facsimiles of printed messages using the existing telephone links. Apparently it is something quite new in the field of telecommunications.

2. Mr Watson was making informal inquiries to see if it would be possible, or appropriate, for a Minister to inaugurate this machine/link (?) by relaying the first message to Princess Alexandra who will be attending the opening of the exhibition.

3. May we have your advice please.

19 September 1972

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R.V. Welborn

APS to Mr Godber

The hamber Presee mülé

Mr Goodfellow Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

We spoke about this enquiry by Mr Watson. It raises two issues:

1.

2.

(a) should Rank Xerox be given this publicity;

(b) if so, who should exchange messages ?

There is notjing new about facsimile transmissions over telephone wires, but the Rank Xerox equipment itself may be something special. I have established that the Post Office have given Rank Xerox technical clearance for use of facsimile equipment on telephone circuits (but the Post Office have no knowledge or special interest in Mr Watson's proposal). There are, I believe, six other manufacturers of facsimile equipment and they might well object to Rank Xerox being singled out for special publicity. This would be a matter for DTI to consider.

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