ENG-1980 — Page 242

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

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In addition, the Post Office provides advisory and planning services for the communica- tions requirements of government departments. It also co-ordinates and regulates the use of all radiocommunications sites. During 1980, projects undertaken included the replace- ment of the Civil Aid Services radio network; the expansion of the radio network for the Agriculture and Fisheries Department; installation of a radio network for the Customs and Excise Service; expansion of the Police Private Automatic Branch Exchange network; and provision of PABX facilities for the Trade Industry and Customs Department, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Prince Philip Dental Hospital. On July 1, 1980, the responsibility for supplying and maintaining government electronic equipment was trans- ferred to the Electrical and Mechanical Office of the Public Works Department.

The Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited, operating under franchise from the government, provides telephone and other telecommunications facilities in Hong Kong. With 1.6 million telephones connected to the network, Hong Kong has a density of more than 31 telephones for every 100 people - the highest in Southeast Asia. Service can normally be provided on demand anywhere in the territory. There is a flat-rate rental which allows unlimited free calls within Hong Kong. The network is fully automatic, with 64 exchanges operating equipment ranging from electro-mechanical switching systems to advanced electronic systems.

A wide range of services and equipment is available to subscribers. Services include a direct-dial radio-paging service; a ship-to-shore telephone service; and a computerised directory enquiry service. Equipment available includes a comprehensive selection of residential telephones, business switching systems, auto-diallers, answering machines and data modems. The year 1980 saw the introduction of a telephone conference service enabling a conference to be held between up to eight people in Hong Kong and overseas; a time and temperature announcement service; and the development phase of Viewdata, an information service linking a television set, via a telephone line, to an information- bearing computer.

Hong Kong's international telephone service is provided by the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited in conjunction with Cable and Wireless Limited. Apart from operator- connected calls to virtually anywhere in the world, International Direct Dialling calls can be made to more than 70 countries and represent approximately 55 per cent of outgoing inter- national calls.

Other international telecommunication services as well as local telegram and telex services are provided by Cable and Wireless Limited. These include public telegram, telex, leased telegraph and telephone circuits for private communication networks, photo-telegram, public switched data, facsimile, international television and voicecast, and International Database Access Service. International facilities are provided via land and submarine coaxial cables and tropospheric-scatter, microwave, satellite, and high-frequency radio systems.