Rediffusion, and prefade listening on incoming relays, thus improving cueing presentation on both incoming material, and outgoing pro- grammes being relayed by Rediffusion.
136. One recording channel was re-equipped with continuous tape playback and turntable facilities, making it available for use with an adjacent studio as a production channel.
137. Control equipment for use in the new studios in the Govern- ment Offices arrived and was partially installed by the end of the year. Installation was held up, as mentioned in paragraph 8, owing to difficulties having arisen with the sound insulation of the studios which was being redesigned to reduce noise transmission from the floor above.
OUTSIDE BROADCASTS
138. A further increase in outside broadcasts took place during the year. Producers of these programmes made more complex demands on technical facilities and many of the broadcasts were of great complexity requiring several complete OB teams, much equipment and split second cueing. Much more use was made of the VHF transmission links from outside broadcast points to studio centre, and better audio quality and a financial saving in line rental resulted.
139. Two portable VHF transmitter/receivers were received during the year, and these 'walkie-talkies' proved very useful in making commentators independent of microphone cable at fairs, shows, etc.
140. An interesting and successful experiment was made with the conversion of an ordinary Chinese cooking pot into a parabolic micro- phone reflector. A dynamic microphone was mounted on a sliding rack facing into the centre of the reflector and about one foot from it. This gave the microphone a high forward directional gain which makes it particularly useful for picking up distant sounds.
RECORDING
141. Again there was a considerable increase in recording work during the year. The following table illustrates the recording output of Radio Hong Kong over the past four years :
Year
Items Hours
1956 - 57
2,360 1,801
1957 - 58
3,314 3,317
1958 - 59
5,820 5,824
1959 - 60
7.319
8,133
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