ENG-1963 — Page 342

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COMMUNICATIONS

Government craft are engaged on postal business. The train service between Kowloon and Lo Wu remains the main link for mails to and from the People's Republic of China. The number of bags carried is given in Appendix X.

For stamp collectors it was another important year with two special issues. In June the $1.30 Freedom from Hunger stamp was put on sale and quickly sold out. In September two stamps (10¢ and $1.30) were issued to commemorate the centenary of the Inter- national Red Cross. Special first day covers were designed and put on sale for both these issues.

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Following last year's experiment of introducing night duties at two sorting offices, a similar service was begun at the airport sorting office to tie in with the 24-hour service which is now given by the airport itself. This will probably become a permanent facility. Another change which is still in the planning stage, is the introduction of a postal district numbering system. If it is intro- duced it will probably be confined to the Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

In addition to routine work the telecommunications division of the Post Office continued to advise and assist other Government departments with their telecommunications requirements, covering telephone systems, VHF radio telephone systems, telemetering systems and radar.

The revised Telecommunication Ordinance came into force on 1st January 1963. Figures for licences in force are shown at Appendix X.

During 1963 Cable and Wireless Limited advanced even further with plans for the introduction of a new era of telecommunications in south-east Asia. The world's biggest telephone cable project--- COMPAC-linking Britain with Australia, New Zealand and Canada was completed on 10th October, and was put in public service early in December. Following this achievement, Cable and Wireless Limited are now pressing ahead with the laying of SEACOM the south-east Asia Commonwealth cable. When this is completed in 1965, Hong Kong will be linked with COMPAC, thus giving direct all cable links with Europe and the United States as well as countries in south-east Asia. SEACOM will provide 80