COMING OF CABLE SERVICES
In a previous article (see 19-9-33) brief reference was made to the coming of the electric telegraph service to Hongkong. The first cable service of this kind, we have seen, was a purely local and private one, when Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. connected their East Point office to their town office with a land line in 1863.
In 1869, the Police also erected a local telegraph line, for their own use. These private lines were an innovation and a great boon, as telephones were still unknown in the Colony, not being introduced here until 1881.
The first submarine telegraph cable was connected to Hong Kong towards the end of 1870, so from 1871 the Colony has been in telegraphic communication with other parts of the world. The first service was merely to Shanghai, and it was not until June, 1871, that cable communication with London and New York was inaugurated. Extensions to other places came in the course of time.
Let us see, however, what the records have to say of that momentous introduction of quick communication to the Colony.
I find in old file that the shore end of that first cable to Shanghai was connected on October 20, 1870. An old chronicle states that this "marks the commencement of a new era in the history of foreign communication in the Far East". The ceremony was of a private nature, it seems, for:
"Not the slightest public intimation of the ceremony was given, nor, so far as we know, was the presence of any accredited representatives of the journals here invited, and consequently none were present. Their uninvited professional attendance on what seems to have been intended as a private picnic would have been simply an impertinence. It was somewhat out of keeping with the spirit which has characterised similar occasions in other parts of the world to cast an air of privacy or exclusiveness over an incident in which probably many thousands of persons at home have a direct interest, and who would like to have had, through the ordinary channels of public information, a fuller description than is now possible of the circumstances attending the event.
"For our own part we regret the omission to invite the presence of journalists, inasmuch as we were deprived of the opportunity of discharging a duty that could not be otherwise than agreeable; and we ask the home directors and shareholders of the Company to accept this explanation of how it happens that no regular report of yesterday's proceedings appears.
However, a gentleman who was present kindly wrote the following short account, dated October 21, 1870, of what occurred:
Yesterday a "favoured few" were invited to go on board the s.s. Great Northern and in her to proceed to Deep Bay, at the other side of the Island, to witness the landing of the shore end of the Submarine Electric Telegraph Cable from the Danish frigate Tordenskjold. On board there were, besides the Governor and Staff, the leading members of the Executive, &c., the Chief Justice, Attorney General, several Consuls, Bankers, Merchants, and others, to (say) the number of twenty. The number of guests was necessarily obliged to be limited for want of room to accommodate a great number.
COMING OF CABLE SERVICES
In a previous article (see 19-9-33) brief reference was made to the coming of the electric telegraph service to Hongkong. The first cable service of this kind, we have seen, was a purely local and private one, when Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co. connected their East Point office to their town office with e lend line in 1863.
*
In 1869, the Police also erected a local telegraph
6020
line, for their own use. These private lines were an innovation and a great boon, as telephones were still unknown in the Colony, not being introduced here until 1881.
The first submarine telegraph cable was connected to Hong Kong towards the end of 1870, so from 1871 the Colony has been in telegraphic communication with other parts of the world. The first service was merely to Shanghai, md it was not until June, 1871, that dable communicetion with London and New York was inaugurated. Extensions to other places came in the course of time.
Let us see, however, what the records have to say of that momentous introduction of qui̟ok communication to the Colony.
I find in old file that the shore end of that first cable to`Shanghai was connected on October 20μ:1870. - An old chronicle states that this "marks the commencement of a new era in the history of foreign communication in the der East". The ceremony was of a private nature, it seems, for:"
"Not the slightest public intimation of the ceremony was given, nor, so far as we know, was the presence of any accredited, representatives of the journals here invited, and consequently what none were present. The ir uninvited professional attendander? on whet seems to have been intended as a private piçnio would have been simply an impertinence. It was somewhat out of keeping with the spirit which has characterissä Limilar cooasions in other parts of the world to cast an air of privacy or exclusiveness over en incident in which probably many thousands of persone at home have a direct interest, and who would like to have had, through the ordinary channels of public information, a fuller description than is low possible of the circumstances attending the event.
*For our own part we regret the omission to invite the presence of journalists, inasmuch as we were deprived of the opportunity of discharging a duty that could not be otherwise then agreeable; and we ask the home directors and shareholders
the Company to accept this explenation of how it happens that no reguler report of yesterday's proceedings eppears.
However, a gentlemen who was present kindly wrote the following short account, dated October 21, 1670, of what occurred:
Yesterday a "favoured few" were invited to go on boerd the s.3. Greet Northern and in her to proceed to Deep Bay, at the other side of the Island, to witness the lending of the shore end of the Submarine Electric Telegraph Cable from the Denish frigste Tordenskjold. On board there were, besides the Governor and Staff, the leading members of the Executive, &o., the Chief Justice, Attorney General, several Consuls, Bankers, Merchants, and others, to (say) the number of twenty. The number of guests was necessarily obliged to be limited for want of room to accommodate
great number.
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