Press, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA
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to act in matters affecting the interests of all Hong Kong news- papers, the society or its members.
Hong Kong is the base of South-East Asia operations for many international magazines, newspapers, radio and televison networks. International news agencies are represented by the Associated Press of America, Agence France Presse, Reuters and United Press Inter- national.
SOUND BROADCASTING
There are three radio broadcasting organizations in Hong Kong, Radio Hong Kong, Commercial Radio and Rediffusion. It is estimated that there are more than a million radio receivers in the Colony.
Radio Hong Kong has been on the air since 1928, and currently broadcasts separate Chinese and English sound services for 17 hours daily on medium, short wave and FM. It does not carry advertising.
Tenders have been called for the construction of Broadcasting House, a new studio centre in Kowloon, due to be completed at the end of 1968. It will provide Radio Hong Kong with self-contained, premises, and, for the first time, sub-departments, now housed in several buildings on Hong Kong Island, will be brought together under one roof. Work on a medium wave transmitting station at Smugglers Ridge began early in the year, and test transmissions are currently in progress on the 20 KW transmitters which should, for the first time, provide a satisfactory medium wave signal on a Colony-wide basis, all the year round.
Radio Hong Kong's policy is to provide listeners with balanced, comprehensive programmes of entertainment, information and education. There is emphasis, particularly on the Chinese service, on the use of the radio in meeting particular social and community needs. For example, special programmes are broadcast for fisher- men, agricultural workers, the blind and school leavers. Research is being made into the possibility of using radio to help train in- dustrial workers in basic technical skills.
Most of the programmes are produced in Hong Kong, but the BBC and other overseas transcription services provide additional material, and English and Chinese news bulletins are relayed from