History of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Development in Hong Kong, Part Three 1971-1983

HF: I am afraid I don’t know the source of the following timeline. I would be grateful if someone comes across the origin and notifies me.

Further information about or images of any of the subjects or companies mentioned would also be very helpful. I have added supplementary information and sources on a number of subjects where I am able to do so.

Thanks to SCT for proofreading the following retyped version of the original script.

History of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Development in Hong Kong

1971 – The first minicomputer and microcomputer were installed by Dataprep (HK) Ltd.

There is little information online about the company. ”Dataprep (Hong Kong) Limited is a dissolved company incorporated on 17th April 1970 in Hong Kong as a private company.”  It was apparently dissolved on 17th November 2000.

1974 – The first PCM microwave equipment was brought into service by the Hong Kong Telephone Co., Ltd.

Again, I have struggled to find information on the HK Telephone Company.

And the only image I have found is of a HK Telephone float in the Kowloon Grand Procession for the Festival of Hong Kong 1971.

 

1974 – The Land Cable System with Guangzhou with capacity of 300 voice channels was brought into service by Cable & Wireless (H.K.) Ltd.

Again, I cannot any further information on this subject.

1975 – Microwave system to Macau with 300 voice channels was installed by Cable & Wireless (H.K.) Ltd.

Nor this one.

1975 – The one millionth telephone was installed.

”Domestic telecommunication facilities in Hong Kong became more advanced in 1925 when the Hong Kong Telephone Company took over the interests of China and Japan Telephone Company. The company’s mandate included providing all the British colonies with local telephone services. Over the next six decades Hong Kong Telephone’s line capacity grew to more than 2.5 million and the company was serving approximately 6 million people.” Source: encyclopedia.com

1976 – International Direct Dialling (IDD) service was introduced.

1981 – The Hong Kong Telephone Co., Ltd, started the optical Fibre Function Programme.

Sir Charles Kao Kuen (1933-2018) was an electrical engineer and physicist who pioneered the development and use of fiber optics in telecommunications.

See: Sir Charles Kuen

1982 – Viewdata and Datel Message Service were introduced by the Hong Kong Telephone Co., Ltd.

Information needed about the above please.

1983 – A new Microwave System linking with Guangzhou with a maximum capacity of 2,700 voice channels was installed by Cable & Wireless (H.K.) Ltd.

Information needed about the above please.

This article was first posted on 14th June 2023.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. History of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Development in Hong Kong, Part One 1871-1931
2. History of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Development in Hong Kong, Part Two 1938-1970