48. All announcers and newsreaders continued to be em- ployed on a part-time basis. Home leave and normal wear and tear took the usual toll during the year and fresh blood was recruited after being passed by the departmental Audition Committee. Most newcomers had no previous experience of microphone working.
49. The English Service continued to operate for 72 hours a week, 8 of these hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoon being designed mainly for members of H.M. Forces serving in the Colony. Weekly half hour programmes were broadcast in Portugese. The weekly broadcasts in French were reduced to one a fortnight in November 1955.
Normal Hours of Broadcasting remained unchanged,
as follows:
Weekdays
Saturdays Sundays
Public Holidays
0700-0900; 1230-1400; 1800-2330, 0700-0900; 1230-2330. 1000-2330.
0800-2330.
50. It is inevitable that the small radio station should rely to a great extent on gramophone records for the provision of programme material. Therefore one of the most significant trends throughout the year was the increased use being made of programmes by local artists and speakers. Another interesting feature was the greater employment of the listener participation technique, whereby listeners make a direct contribution to a programme, as for instance in radio competitions where entries can be sent in by post. There was also improved coverage of local events and ceremonies. As an overall result of these developments the English Service was given a more pronounced Hong Kong character.
Royal Occasions
51. The Sovereign's Christmas Message is by tradition the highlight of the year's broadcasting; the moment in the year when the People of the Commonwealth are united by the bond of radio. This year Her Majesty's message was heard at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day as she spoke to her peoples from the study at Sandringham.
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