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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA
Television Broadcasts Ltd is registered and controlled in Hong Kong, and a resident board of directors is responsible for policy. It is licensed to operate for a period of 15 years, subject to renewal at the end of every five years. The company also has exclusive right to broadcast commercial TV programmes for the first five
years.
HK-TVB employs the UHF 625-line PAL colour system to broadcast over the two networks. The Jade Network basically uses Cantonese and Pearl Network is in English. Each network employs at the moment five transmitters.
The main transmitters are on the top of Temple Hill, which command a panoramic view of Hong Kong, Kowloon and part of the New Territories.
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HK-TVB operates from a modern studio complex near the mouth of the Lion Rock Tunnel. The Jade Network has a high percentage of local live programmes and one programme alone employs 500 acts a month. The Pearl Network has begun to present many live programmes in addition to well-known television series purchased from the United Kingdom and the United States. About 90% of the Pearl Network shows are in colour.
HK-TVB also maintains an independent news service with its own editorial staff and reporters. Extensive news programmes in both English and Chinese are presented daily and, as with the other broadcasting organizations, non-stop transmission is provided for the public during periods of emergency, notably typhoons.
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FILM INDUSTRY
Hong Kong has been among the top four film production centres throughout the world over the past six years in terms of output, and 1968 saw Hong Kong produce more than 200 features, just behind the leaders, India and Japan.
The two principal companies are Shaw Brothers and the Cathay Organization (formerly Motion Picture and General Investment Company), and they control the bulk of 28 shooting stages. Six smaller independent companies have studio complexes. Most of the Mandarin films are widescreen and in lavish colour-Shaw Brothers' films are renowned for their outstanding colour. The