take place before the end of the year. Minor increases in broadcasting time were however possible and on November 4th, both Chinese and English services added a few extra hours weekly to their output. To a degree, these were increases of convenience, in that they permitted the broadcasting of certain programme items, an English women's programme for instance, which it was felt were not suitable for inclusion in the existing programme hours. Actual broadcasting times will be found under paragraphs 36 and 67.
23. The proposed daily increase of seven programme hours for the Chinese programme meant that the work of the Chinese programme staff would be almost doubled. At the same time, the creative staff were to be doubled, but this was partially offset by the decision that far more emphasis was to be placed on the type of programmes that take the greatest amount of time to produce, e.g. features, plays, and specialist programmes, such as that planned for farmers in the New Territories.
24. The deadline for the introduction of expanded Chinese broadcasting was set in February, when it was decided that the full increase, with a standard seventeen hours broadcasting day, would come into effect in late May.
25. In order to give every idea its fullest rein, the only qualifications required for any suggested programme for the new service were that it should reflect the life of the people of Hong Kong, that it should be feasible, and that it should be of the highest quality possible. Thus among the new programme ideas were a family diary-owing something to the ubiquitous Mrs. Dale-a prolonged series of talks and features on the cultural heritage of China, a very specialized programme for farmers making few concessions to the urban listeners, a series of cabaret programmes by the leading dance bands in the Colony, a series of talks on Hong Kong in the past, considerably brightened women's and children's programmes, more local news features and an increase in quality and quantity of drama. The work involved in the preparation of such diverse pro- grammes is considerable. By the end of the year writers had been commissioned, and casts and artists were in process of being sought.
26. The experience of the months after the inauguration of what might be termed a radio revolution may make necessary
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