ENG-1974 — Page 211

150

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

During the year direct mail despatches were regularly made to more than 250 destinations overseas. This represents an increase of 25 per cent over the previous year and follows a special review of the routing of mails to ensure optimum service.

No new offices were opened in 1974 but maximum planning effort has been directed toward the progress of the new General Post Office and the International Mail Centre. Piling for the new General Post Office was completed, the contract was let and building work started during the year. Contracts were also signed for the provision of mechanisation equipment for the project. Progress on the planning of the International Mail Centre has continued and tenders for the building and for the mechanisation equipment were expected to be sought in 1975.

During the year there were three commemorative stamp issues. In January two stamps of values 10 cents and $1.30 were issued to mark the Lunar New Year-Year of the Tiger. This issue was the eighth in the series of Lunar New Year stamps. February saw the issue of three stamps in the 10 cents, $1 and $2 denominations to commemorate the Hong Kong Arts Festival. On this occasion, for the first time in Hong Kong, special souvenir sheets incorporating all three stamps of the Arts Festival were sold. In October there was a special stamp issue to commemorate the centenary of the Universal Postal Union. The three stamps in this series were issued in the values 10 cents, 50 cents and $2. Specially designed first day covers were placed on sale with each of the stamp issues. At Christmas a specially designed pictorial aerogramme was made available.

Telecommunication Services

The Postmaster General, as the Telecommunication Authority, administers the Telecommunication Ordinance and is responsible for the control and supervision of all telecommunication services operating in Hong Kong. The Post Office licenses and inspects installations operating under the ordinance, monitors radio transmissions and investigates interference. It also provides an advisory service to the government and co-ordinates the communication requirements of all departments. In addition, it carries out electronics maintenance for 27 government departments, ranging over 250 sites throughout Hong Kong, mainly in the fields of radio, audio, communal television aerial systems and electromedical equipment.

Overseas communication facilities are provided by Cable and Wireless with 369 telephone and 926 telegraph circuits to all parts of the world. A submarine coaxial cable with a capacity of 80 telephone channels extends southwestwards to Singapore and eastwards to Guam where it joins other cable systems to Japan, the United States and Australia. Two satellite earth station antennae provide direct links to the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean satellites. Facilities are provided to give Hong Kong international transmission and reception of television programmes in either 625/50 PAL or 525/60 NTSC standards in colour or monochrome. Communication facilities are also provided for ship-to-shore services and to nearby countries by VHF, tropospheric scatter and HF radio systems.

Telegraph traffic for the public telegram service, airline operations and other commercial organisations is provided by Cable and Wireless from their message