Post_Office_1967-1968 — Page 24

scribers in Hong Kong and the number continues to increase steadily. Subscribers can be connected to most of the countries in the world which have telex service. Connexion to overseas subscribers is semi-automatic (operator dialling) on many routes. Conversion to fully automatic (sub- scriber dialling) is expected in two to three years, when the new Hasler Electronic Telex Exchange has been installed. The new exchange will provide automatic Internal Telex also. Many Telex customers use their teleprinters for the Printergram service, i.e. filing and delivery of over- seas telegrams as well as local telegrams.

International Telephone

98. This service is operated in collaboration with the Hong Kong Telephone Company who handle the traffic at their Central Telephone Exchange in Garden Road. Cable and Wireless provides radio circuits with 16 destinations, with relays to most countries of the world. Services with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Manila, U.K., and U.S.A. are by SEACOM telephone cable. The International Switching Centre is in Mercury House and provides MF signalling over cables and 4-wire interconnexion between cable and radio routes. There are now 119 overseas telephone channels terminating in Hong Kong; and the centre is expected to extend to 130 trunks this year.

Telegraph

99. Telegraph services operate over the SEACOM Telephone Cable, and by H.F. radio with other points; submarine telegraph cables provide direct circuits with Manila. Direct circuits are worked to some 28 countries. Automatic relays are provided where necessary. About 13,000 telegrams are handled every day in the Central Telegraph Office.

Leased Telegraph Circuits

100. The first of these was operational in 1954. There are now 100 leased circuits between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Canton, Bombay, Calcutta, Canberra, Colombo, Djakarta, Karachi, Kota Kinabalu, London, Manila, Montreal, New York, Osaka, Paris, Rangoon, Saigon, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Vientiane. Many are used by airlines and are in operation 24 hours a day. The B.O.A.C. Signals Centre is in Mercury House and is staffed by Cable and Wireless Ltd. The Centre handles over 10,000 messages a day. The S.I.T.A. Signals Centre is expected to move shortly into Mercury House.

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