Post_Office_1971-1972 — Page 19

High Island Water Scheme, the Kai Tak Runway extension and Airport Development and the Hung Hom Reclamation Development Scheme.

Technical Services

79. The Department also provides advisory, installation and main- tenance services for a variety of telecommunication and electronic systems and equipment used by Government Departments. Technical assessment of specific telecommunication requirements and 136 equip- ment evaluations were carried out for 19 Departments: these included Fixed and Mobile HF, VHF and UHF radio links and networks, simultaneous interpretation systems, Public Address, Radio Distribution and Paging systems. In all 20 system installations were undertaken by Post Office staff.

80. A total of 1,380 maintenance jobs were undertaken by the Post Office workshops in Hong Kong and Kowloon on behalf of 25 Departments. This work covered a wide variety of radio, electronic, radar and audio equipment.

Public Telephone System

81. The Hong Kong Telephone Company, Limited, a Public Com- pany registered in Hong Kong with a nominal capital of HK$350 million, operates under a franchise from the Hong Kong Government which has been extended to 30th June, 1995, and provides all internal telephone services.

82. Telephone service to the rest of the world is also provided in conjunction with Cable and Wireless Ltd. and the Hong Kong operators have direct dialling access to distant subscribers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and West Germany.

83. The number of overseas calls originating in Hong Kong con- tinues to increase considerably and the total for 1971 exceeded that for the previous year by 23.2%.

84. The telephone service is fully automatic and is provided from 45 exchanges situated throughout the urban areas, New Territories and all major islands. The system continues to grow at an approximate rate of 20% per annum which compares with the world average of about 7%.

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