use. The following table illustrates the recording output of Radio Hong Kong over the past three years.
Year
1956/57
1957/58
1958/59.
Recording Work
Items
Hours
2,360
1,801
3,314
3,327
5,820
5,824
The output for 1958/59 shows a substantial increase over previous years and averaged sixteen hours of recording work daily. The ratio of disc to tape recording work now stands at 1: 50. Tape recording holds many advantages over disc recording, not least among these being economy. Portable tape recorders averaged seventy outings each month for interview work, etc. Many outside broadcasts were recorded on site.
OUTSIDE BROADCASTS
107. Greater broadcasting coverage was given to local events and happenings and consequently an increase of some 20% in outside broadcast work was registered compared to previous years. The provi- sion of VHF Link equipment resulted in a saving in line rentals. It also allowed broadcasts to be carried out from previously inaccessible spots. VHF was used to cover such events as the visit of H.R.H. the Prince Philip, the Yuen Long Agriculture Show, the Annual Walkathon, etc. Commentaries on the arrival into and departure from Hong Kong waters of the Royal Yacht 'Britannia' were carried out with the co-operation of the Royal Navy, using VHF equipment installed in a minesweeper or an escort vessel. The Yuen Long Agricultural Fair posed something of a problem for VHF as Tai Mo Shan blocked the radio path to the studios. This difficulty was overcome by positioning one of our vans equipped as a VHF relay point on the mountain and relaying the signal from Yuen Long.
108. A sound distribution/isolating amplifier was constructed to meet increasing demands for sound distribution to TV and newsreel cameras covering public events.
109. An unmanned outside broadcast installation situated at Kai Tak Airport was put to good use for broadcast interview and conference purposes.
RELAY RECEPTION
110. During the year under review, 1,530 English and 1,080 Chinese programmes from the BBC were received at the Cable and Wireless
22