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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1974.
R.H.K. PLANNING BETTER RECEPTION FACILITIES
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PLANS ARE IN HAND TO EXTEND RADIO HONG KONG'S V.H.F./F.M. COVERAGE FUT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF STEREO BROADCASTING STARTING THIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOV, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ROCER LOBO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LI SAID THAT EXTENDED VHF/FM COVERAGE AND STEREO BROADCASTING HAD BEEN CONSIDERED FOR SOME MONTHS BY THE DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING AND THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
THE STAGE HAD NOW BEEN REACHED, HE ADDED, WHEN IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPLACE THE EXISTING VHF/FI - TRANSMITTING FACILITIES AT MOUNT COUGH INSTALLED IN 1960 -- THAN TO CONTINUE PAYING THE HIGH COSTS FOR THEIR MAINTENANCE.
+SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION OF THIS AND THE DETERMINING OF THE BEST METHOD OF IMPROVING THE COVERAGE, THE DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING INTENDS TO SUBMIT A SCHEME TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR APPROVAL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMITTERS.
+SICH_REPLACEMENTS WOULD BE CAPABLE OF STEREO BROADCASTS,+ SAID MR. LI.
MOWEVER, VARIOUS TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE TO BE SOLVED BEFORE THESE PROPOSALS COULD BE FINALISED.
+FOR INSTANCE, IT MIGHT BE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PRESENT TRANSMITTERS WITH SIMILAR HIGH POWER TRANSMITTERS WHICH WOULD GIVE VHF/FM COVERAGE OVER THE PRESENT AREA AND IN ADDITION TO INSTALL THREE PAIRS OF SHALL TRANSPOSERS COR BOOSTER STATIONS) TO COVER AREAS WHICH WILL NOT RECEIVE A STRONG SIGNAL FROM THE MAIN TRANSMITTERS,+ MR. LI EXPLAINED.
ANOTHER COURSE, WOULD BE TO SET UP A SERIES OF SMALL TRANSMITTERS AT SITES OTHER THAN MOUNT COUGH.
BOTH OF THESE COURSES WOULD GIVE GOOD COVERAGE BUT THERE WOULD STILL BE SOME AREAS WHICH COULD NOT BE REACHED WITHOUT DISPROPORTIONATE EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.
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THE GOVERNMENT'S TECHNICAL EXPERTS WOULD TRY TO FIND A SYSTEM WHICH WILL GIVE THE BEST COVERAGE, TOGETHER WITH THE BEST QUALITY RECEPTION, AT THE MOST ECONOMICAL COST.
MR. LI SAID IT WOULD BE A FEW MONTHS YET BEFORE EXAMINATION OF THIS COMPLEX PROBLEM IS COMPLETE AND AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS SUBMITTED.
+THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF BROADCASTS FROM NEW EQUIPMENT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE SUPPLY POSITION OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE TIME NEEDED TO INSTALL IT.
+1 REGRET THEREFORE THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF THESE BROADCASTS STARTING WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.+
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