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THE MEDIA
Radio 1 of the Chinese channel has strengthened its news and current affairs output and has expanded the production of programmes designed to encourage audience participation as well as community involvement. Education programmes which incorporate language teaching, Chinese literature, history, overseas studies guidance, medical health guidance and sex education is also a major feature of this channel.
Radio 2 is being streamlined and remodelled to develop into a channel for young people, with popular music as the salient feature and a lively approach to community service. For the Year of the Disabled Persons, the channel featured a highly successful concert which raised $100,000. It was organised with the co-operation of various government departments and social service groups. The appointments by the Governor of seven Radio 2 disc jockeys as fight crime committee members is a reflection of the effort the channel has put into projecting a positive civic role, particularly among young people.
Radio 3 continues to be a channel broadcasting news and current affairs, talk shows and popular music for the English-speaking population. Meanwhile Radio 4 is playing an increasingly important role as the arts and serious music channel. It has been very active in promoting cultural affairs in Hong Kong, by working closely with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Chamber Group as well as being much involved in the 1981 Arts Festival.
Radio 5, a bi-lingual channel, relays the BBC World Service from 6 am to 6.45 am and from 5 pm to 2.30 am daily; outside these hours it provides an additional FM service of programmes such as classical music, education programmes and drama.
With the introduction of stereo drama, RTHK has become the first station in Southeast Asia to use such advanced technology in drama production.
RTHK's Kidney Donation Campaign which was in full swing from June to August, illustrates the station's efforts in community involvement projects. The campaign was successful in encouraging more than 20 000 people to register as kidney donors.
Advanced technology being introduced will lead to broadcasting services using a wider spectrum of the VHF/FM band. In 1979, approval in principle was given for the introduction of a VHF/FM transmission plan to duplicate in FM existing AM services and to enlarge the service area of FM broadcasts. Cable and Wireless was appointed to conduct a feasibility study for the scheme.
For Commercial Radio, one of the highlights of the year was its introduction of FM broadcasting for its two Chinese channels. Initially, transmissions are being directed at the north of Hong Kong Island and at the Sha Tin area of the New Territories. This is the first stage of developments which will eventually lead to territory-wide FM coverage in stereo for all of CR's three channels. It is estimated that the improved reception could increase the station's audience by 250 000.
Commercial Radio has been out and about'. during the year with a stepped-up programme of outside broadcasts including coverage of the introduction of trotting from Macau, horse-racing, charity all-star basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, yachting and variety shows (presented in conjunction with the Urban Council).
The station presented and broadcast a Cantonese opera The Sword of Righteousness, starring Sun Ma Tzi Tsang, as the last of its annual three nights of charity shows which raised over $200,000 for the station's Charity and Disaster Fund.
The British Ministry of Defence operates the British Forces Broadcasting Service Hong Kong (BFBS) from studios at Sek Kong in the New Territories. Established to serve the particular needs of the British and Gurkha forces stationed in Hong Kong, the station's brief is to broadcast programmes of entertainment, information and education and to