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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA
The Rediffusion network has two channels. By the end of 1967, there were 90,000 subscribers. The television services carry adver- tising, and a number of shows on both channels are commercially sponsored. The two channels provide some 75 hours of viewing each week. While both channels carry popular filmed shows from Britain and America, the Chinese programme, in particular, in- cludes many live shows from studios at Rediffusion House. In television, as in radio, outside broadcasts play their part in creating among viewers a greater understanding of current events in the Colony and, almost every day, Rediffusion's cameras are out cover- ing local news. The company's new multi-studio complex in Kowloon is expected to be in full operation early in 1968.
The rental fee for a 23-inch television set is $50 a month and $45 for a 19-inch set. These fees, which are inclusive of receiver, program- mes, licence and maintenance, are reduced annually. Subscribers with their own receivers pay $25 a month to cover the programme fee, licence and maintenance. The network now reaches out from the urban areas to Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Clear Water Bay, Sha Tin and Castle Peak in the New Territories, and further develop- ments are under way.
FILM INDUSTRY
Accurate figures for the purposes of comparison are hard to establish, but it seems clear that Hong Kong is one of the world's largest film producing centres. Many productions are the work of small studios on low budgets, but the industry also has its more elaborate productions in full colour and wide screen, and some of these have won awards at film festivals in Asia. In 1967 at the 14th Asian Film Festival, in Tokyo, the Hong Kong Shaw Brothers' production Susanna won the Golden Harvest Award for the best dramatic film of the year.
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
The task of the Government Information Services is to keep the people of Hong Kong and overseas accurately informed of the government's aims and achievements. The department is linked by teleprinter to 41 newspapers, news agencies and radio stations.