PUBLICATIONS, BROADCASTING AND FILMS
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Tab Hunter, Pierre Balmain, Arthur Godfrey, Basil Rathbone, David Rose and Eileen Joyce.
The Chinese Service is designed mainly as a Cantonese service, but running through the main design are programmes in the minority languages, Kuoyü, Chiuchow and Hakka. All forms of broadcasting are included and, like the English Service, the aim is to provide a balanced informative, educational and entertaining service.
Radio plays are particularly popular amongst the Chinese lis- teners and an average of 20 of these is produced every week. In addition to regular weekly features on Chinese culture, a new series of talks was produced on Chinese verse and old proverbs and another on Chinese Classics, contributed by the Hok Hoi Library. All tastes in music are provided for, but special attention was given to developing a new form of Chinese music which is now becoming popular. This is the harmonization of Chinese instrumental music which was introduced at the 1959 Festival of the Arts.
Many new programmes were introduced during the year and one worthy of particular mention, 'Love Thy Neighbour', which was produced in collaboration with the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, reflected the work done by the local clansmen, Kaifongs, District and other welfare organizations.
Regular programmes of Western music were maintained includ- ing explanatory programmes which attempt to bring out a fuller understanding of the classics. A series of magazine programmes of the music from twelve European countries was introduced in the middle of the year, but perhaps the unique programme is one in which an English staff producer, speaking in Chinese, introduced Western 'hit' songs.
All sporting events were well covered. A highlight of the year was the Olympic Games which a Chinese staff producer, on his return from a course at the BBC, stopped over in Rome to cover. In collaboration with the BBC, daily commentaries were broadcast in Cantonese and Kuoyü and recorded commentaries giving fuller details were airmailed back to Hong Kong.
Three new programmes for women were introduced, and the daily programme for children remained a regular and popular
feature.