Post_Office_1972-1973 — Page 21

81. Six new Private Automatic Branch Exchanges and three Private Automatic Exchanges were completed during the year. These include 3 PABXs which are the first stage of a very large network of 22 exchanges of various sizes being installed for the Royal Hong Kong Police. Projects involving 24 new PABX and PAX installations for other Departments are in hand, including large systems for the Princess Margaret Hospital, Canton Road Government Offices, the Pik Uk Prison Complex, Hung Hom Development and the new General Post Office Building. A number of projects for the extension or im- provement of existing systems have been completed during the year and others are under action.

Technical Services

82. The Department provides advisory, installation and mainte- nance services for a variety of telecommunications and electronic systems and equipment used by Government Departments. A total of 38 system installations were undertaken by the Post Office and 1,500 items of equipment of 250 different types were under maintenance for 25 Departments. Evaluations were carried out on fixed and mobile VHF radio links and networks, public address, radio distribution and paging systems, television, closed circuit television, tape recorders and language laboratories. In addition, 28 surveys and trials were carried out and 21 specifications were prepared for tendering and purchase. A simultaneous interpretation system was installed by the Post Office in the Legislative Council Chamber and this system is maintained by the Department.

Public Telephone System

83. 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.

84. 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, Nether- lands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands and West Germany.

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