A notable addition to the cultural organizations of the Colony is the British Council, an Office of which was opened in Hong Kong in September. Even before the establishment of the local office facilities provided by the London headquarters of the Council had been available to the Colony. Books had been presented to the University; gramophone records had been supplied to Radio Hong Kong; British Council publications had been distributed to schools; scholarships tenable at Universities. in the United Kingdom had been awarded to a doctor, a social welfare worker and an engineer; and four persons were sent on visits to the United Kingdom. Much of the local British Council's work up to the present has been preparatory but it has succeeded in spite of cramped accommodation in illustrating the character and scope of its future plans. A library is being established; an exhibition of 18th and 19th century paintings is being prepared; lecture courses on painting and the British Constitution and a series of weekly documentary film shows accompanied by lectures are being arranged. Films on education, nursing, industries etc. have been shown to schools, societies and other groups; arrangements have been made for the publication of feature articles in leading Chinese newspapers; two scholar- ships are being awarded for the academic year 1949/50; these illustrate some of the many activities of the British Council.
Broadcasting.
Broadcasting has now established itself in every country in the world, as an integral part of community life, and has had far-reaching influences on entertainment, on culture, on politics, on social habits, on religion and on morals. In a small colony such as Hong Kong the value of radio is doubly enhanced by the lack of an adequate community centre and the absence of a legitimate professional European theatre and of a professional musical community.
Since the war the interest amongst the educated Chinese in Western culture and particularly Western music has increased by leaps and bounds and Radio Hong Kong has done its utmost to foster this interest.
The B.B.C. Transcription Service has made it possible for listeners in the Colony to enjoy, at studio quality, the finest performances of drama and music from the B.B.C. Third and Home Programmes; to appreciate features dealing with the widest range of subjects from atomic energy to the Trade Union move- ment; and to hear talks by leading men of our time distinguished historians, philosophers and men of letters.
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