Post_Office_1972-1973 — Page 18

of the licence granted to them. They also provide and maintain various external circuits and other telecommunication facilities for the Government.

66. The Post Office is responsible for the issue of licences and the regulation of services as specified in the Telecommunications Regulations. It also advises the Government on general technical issues concerning the provision of all types of services, including the operation of the public telephone network, the provision of external telecommunication facilities and television services. The Hong Kong Communications Board facilitates the co-ordination of all services with the Armed Forces and a committee of the Board is convened monthly to approve the allocations of radio frequencies for various purposes. The Post Office also provides a maintenance facility for miscellaneous telecommunications and electronic equipment operated by Government Departments.

Licensing and Inspection

67. Mobile Radio Systems are still on the increase and 126 new applications were received. There are now 4,439 licensed mobile instal- lations in operation, served by 453 base stations. This compares with 2,805 licensed mobile stations served by 339 base stations a year ago. At the end of 1972 a survey was conducted on the availability of frequency allocations for future use in the Civilian Fixed and Mobile bands. The survey revealed that because of the heavy demand for this type of service frequency allocations were in short supply. It was decided that in order to meet future commitments and make more frequencies available, as from 1st April, 1973, all new installations would have to meet a 12.5 kHz channelling requirement. All existing 50 kHz channelled equipment operating in the Civilian band will be required to change to 25 kHz as from 1st February, 1975. All existing 25 kHz equipment must be replaced or modified to 12.5 kHz channel- ling on a date 10 years from the initial date shown on the licence of the equipment.

68. The numbers of licences of all types current as at 31st March, 1973 are shown in Appendix VIII.

69. The Department's Inspectorate staff carried out inspections on all types of equipment and 51 prosecutions were conducted against persons found contravening the Ordinance, with the following results:

12