ENG-1953 — Page 197

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953

The Company's new "Harborfone" scheme is in full operation, and facilities are now available for any ship moored within the harbour to be fitted with a V.H.F. radiotelephone installation on hire, giving direct connexion to subscribers by normal duplex operation. This service is proving very popular, and is in advance of facilities provided for ships in most ports of the world.

The Company's radio facsimile service, already available to and from Singapore and London, has been extended to include Japan. During 1953, radio press pictures covering notable events in the Colony were transmitted for publication in newspapers abroad and pictures of world events, notably the Coronation, were received in the Colony.

Sufficient use was made of the local telegram service to prove that this facility fulfills a public need. Telegrams handed in at the Company's acceptance counters, in Hong Kong or Kowloon, are delivered to any address in Hong Kong and the mainland New Territories.

The traffic figures for the year ending 31st December, 1953, were as follows:-

Telegrams forwarded

1,393,243

Telegrams delivered

1,387,720

Radiotelephone,

paid minutes outwards

644,434

Radiotelephone,

paid minutes inwards

1,274,256

Ship/shore radiotelephone, paid minutes outwards Ship/shore radiotelephone,

+

paid minutes inwards Radio Pictures, outwards Radio Pictures, inwards

•

66

158

137

68 (18,373 sq. cms.) 16 (3,459 sq. cms.)