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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
The Chinese transmission is on the air for an average of 10.1 hours daily, the English service for 10.7.
The services are made up as follows:
Studio (live and pre-recorded)
Commercial records
Outside broadcasts
Radio relays
Transcriptions
Chinese English
52%
28%
36%
43%
6%
5%
6%
7%
nil
17%
Considerable effort is exerted by the programme organi- zers to give both services a more pronounced Hong Kong character, principally by increasing the amount of live programmes by local musicians and speakers. 1955 was note- worthy in this respect for a rise in live programmes on the English service. In a revised programme format introduced in November, the number of English programmes featuring local artists and speakers rose to 33%, although the average for the year was 28%, as given above. Hitherto the highest proportion on the English programme, achieved in 1954, was 17%.
The introduction of recording processes facilitates the presentation of locally-produced programmes, particularly where broadcasters are amateurs with limited spare time. Tape is now the predominant recording medium, the ratio of tape to disc work being 7:3. 18% of all local programme material for the English transmission was pre-recorded.
Another aim of both services is to increase the number of programmes catering for the tastes of specialist listeners, such as music-lovers, sportsmen, and filmgoers. This is being achieved by the introduction of magazine programmes. "Housewives' Magazine", on the Chinese service, has intro- duced experts on cooking, home nursing, and dressmaking. "Sports Cavalcade", on the English Service, has brought to the microphone experts in almost every field of sport, together with actuality reports and interviews with local and visiting players. "Music Magazine" is a feature to which distinguish- ed visiting musicians and local pundits contribute. Chinese film and theatre fans are catered for by visits "Behind the Stage Curtain", in which more than 60 film and stage stars have been interviewed. On the English service a new weekly feature, "Going to the Pictures", reviews current films. "We Are Living Below Victoria Peak", the Chinese trans- mission's weekly magazine of people and events locally in
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