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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA
Radio Hong Kong is a government department and carries no advertising. It is the longest established radio station in the Colony and is, in fact, one of the oldest colonial broadcasting stations, having begun operations in 1928. It broadcasts both its Chinese and English programmes 17 hours a day on medium wave and on VHF/FM. The Chinese service is also carried on short wave, principally for the benefit of the fishing fleets. The medium wave transmitters are at Hung Hom in Kowloon and the FM mast is on the summit of Mount Gough. Since 1951 Radio Hong Kong's studios and engineering services have been housed in Mercury House, the Far Eastern headquarters of Cable and Wireless Limited, but plans are now in hand for a new station at Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island.
The principal language of the Chinese programmes is Cantonese, although news bulletins and important announcements are also broadcast in Kuoyu, Chiuchow and Hakka. Educational material has become a feature of the Chinese service during recent years and these programmes, often related to specially issued textbooks, command considerable attention among student listeners. Three hours are set aside each day from Monday to Friday for educational programmes ranging from biology to poetry. Musical tastes among Chinese listeners range all the way from classical opera to modern Chinese and Western songs favoured by younger listeners. A 12-man Cantonese orchestra was formed during the year and in addition to giving weekly broadcasts is also available to accompany soloists.
Regular news bulletins covering local, regional and world news are supplemented by relays of BBC services in Kuoyu and Can- tonese. A news magazine, ‘Topical Events', is broadcast each weekday evening to give a background to local news. There is a big public for Radio Hong Kong's outside broadcasts, especially those from the race track and football matches. Outside broadcast teams also produce many special programmes for farmers and fishermen, and cover all the main Chinese festivals.
Radio Hong Kong's English programmes serve not only Europeans living in the Colony but also the growing number of English- speaking Chinese. The programmes include a high proportion of classical music and talks. Frequent discussion programmes are broadcast and current events are also covered in a daily news