C
British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA from the Chairman, George Howard
16th June 1981
Den Thuma
Мина
You were kind enough to suggest that I should write formally to you on my return to London to seek your advice as to the attitude the Government of Hong Kong would be likely to take towards the development of a relay transmitter by the BBC at one of two possible locations in the Territory, if the Foreign & Commonwealth Office should decide to proceed with the project and if the necessary funds were available.
The two locations which have been under consideration are at Che Ha in the north-eastern part of the New Territories and at Tsang Tsui in the Lau Fau Shan area in the west. Both locations satisfy the criteria of our engineers in being flat and in having a consider- able area of level ground or water in front of the assumed aerial arrays. Che Ha is, as we have said, the preferred site of the two from the BBC's point of view because access is relatively easier and the development cost would be lower. Also, from a tech- nical point of view, it is screened to the south by a range of hills which would effectively shield the whole of the area to the south of the station from backward radiation. The location is close to, but does not form part of, the area designated as a country park. It is understood, however, that the development of this site might cause planning problems when the Sha Tin development is eventually extended into the area.
A
The location at Tsang Tsui is marginally less favoured by the BBC. It would be somewhat more expensive to develop and is not screened by hills to the south of where the aerial arrays would be situated. It would, nevertheless, be entirely suitable for the purpose required and meets all the essential BBC criteria. problem here might be the presence of a small farming population in or close to the area under consideration.
We appreciate that the difference in the value of the land between the two sites might well more than out- weigh any difference in costs between them.
-1-