ENG-1956 — Page 278

COMMUNICATIONS

227

Manila, increasing the total number of phototelegram ser-

vices to five.

Traffic Figures for 1956 were :

Telegrams transmitted

1,059,052

Telegrams received

1,135,879

Telegrams in transit

410,799

Telegrams transmitted by Teleprinter

500,002

Radiophone mins. transmitted

559,371

Radiophone mins. received

710,172

Radio pictures transmitted (217 Pictures)

64,651 sq. cms.

Radio pictures received (24 Pictures)

5,384 sq. cms.

Press broadcasts (words handled)

58,813,000

555,000

99,000

Meteorological broadcasts (words handled)

Harborfone calls to ships in harbour

Telephones. The Hong Kong Telephone Company, Ltd., provides and operates the Colony's internal public telephone service. In co-operation with Cable & Wireless Ltd. the service is extended by radio-telephone and is available to most parts of the world.

The number of direct exchange lines working on the Company's system is approximately 45,000 and the number of extensions is approximately 18,500, making an approximate total of 63,500.

The system is fully automatic and is provided by four main Exchanges and a number of satellite Exchanges.

A new main Exchange of 12,000 lines, with an ultimate capacity of 19,000 lines, for the Western District of Victoria will be completed towards the end of 1957-

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

The Royal Observatory, which is the sole source of weather information in Hong Kong, provides forecasts for the general public, shipping, aviation and the Armed Forces. In addition