ENG-1958 — Page 295

COMMUNICATIONS

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The system is fully automatic and service is provided from five major exchanges and a number of satellite exchanges. Construc- tion of two more major exchanges in Kowloon, with a combined ultimate capacity of 32,000 lines, began in 1958 and is scheduled for completion in 1959.

The Company's system now comprises some 62,000 direct exchange lines and 24,000 extensions, making an approximate total of 86,000 stations. Demand for service continues to grow and planning for additional exchanges to meet this demand is continuous.

Despite increasing costs, telephone rentals remain unaltered and are possibly the lowest in the world. Rentals are charged on a ‘flat rate' basis at $300 per annum for a business line and $225 per annum for a residential line. For this fee the subscriber may make as many local calls as he wishes.

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

The Royal Observatory is the sole source of weather informa- tion in Hong Kong. The Central Forecast Office at the Observatory provides forecasts for the general public, shipping and the Armed Forces, and supplies analyzed weather charts by facsimile to the Aviation Forecast Office at the airport. In addition to its mete- orological duties, the Observatory operates a seismological station and a time service.

The Royal Observatory's most important function is to give warning of storms. Whenever a tropical depression, storm or typhoon moves into the China Sea, six-hourly and often three- hourly statements of position, intensity and direction of movement of the centre are issued. Frequent reliable ship reports and storm reconnaissances by aircraft help to locate storms accurately. When the Colony itself is threatened, the local storm warning system is brought into use, and warnings are widely distributed by means of visual signals, telephone, radio and Rediffusion.

Four tropical storms affected Hong Kong during the year, but a gale warning was necessary on only one occasion. Local storm warning signals were displayed for a total of 214 hours and the strong monsoon signal for 230 hours.