ENG-1967 — Page 265

196

COMMUNICATIONS

comprised two stamps in values of 10 cents and $1.30. The second, to mark the connection of the Hong Kong spur to the Common- wealth cable, was a single stamp at $1.30 value.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Telecommunications Division of the Post Office licenses and inspects telecommunication installations operating under the Tele- communication Ordinance; investigates interference to telecom- munication services and monitors radio transmissions to ensure that they comply with the conditions of licence. The division also acts as adviser to government departments on telecommunication matters and co-ordinates their telephone service requirements.

Overseas communications are provided by Cable and Wireless Limited. The 400 million dollar SEACOM Commonwealth cable project was completed in 1967, linking Hong Kong, by wideband submarine cable, to many overseas cities. To the west the cable connects with Jesselton, Singapore and Kualu Lumpur, and east- ward to Guam, Australia and then to Canada and Europe. From Guam the SEACOM cable joins with alternative cables to give high quality channels to Japan, the Philippines and the USA. These new high grade channels created a 50 per cent increase in telephone traffic and additional automatic switching and dialling equipment was installed in Mercury House to cater for this.

In addition to the cables, radio circuits are in operation to some 18 countries in the region and Hong Kong has become an important telecommunications centre for relayed services. There are now 108 overseas telephone channels terminating in Hong Kong and 164 overseas telegraph circuits.

The telex service, giving individual office-to-office communication, continues to expand and at the end of 1967 there were 460 sub- scribers in Hong Kong. Leased circuits also continue to increase and high speed data channels are being planned.

During 1967 the expansion of Cape D'Aguilar Radio Station was virtually completed. The tropospheric scatter system to Taiwan went into service in March and a third HF transmission station will be completed early in 1968. Field work and preparations for a satellite earth station, due to be built in 1968, continues.