in almost continuous use for 17 hours a day. The availability of engineering facilities had also to be re-arranged so as to allow for routine maintenance.
87. In meeting the extension of the English Service the shortage of Control Rooms and Studios has been emphasized. Greater pressure has necessarily been placed on existing facilities in order to compile the extra programmes required. The introduction of the FM Services has called for extra effort to ensure the highest possible standards, and the year has been one of great challenge to the whole of the technical staff.
RECORDING
88. The extension of hours of the English Service naturally placed a greater strain on recording facilities.
89. Tape is used for nearly all recordings. Disc recordings are usually limited to sound effects in drama productions and features. The following table illustrates the recording output over the past four years.
Year
1957 - 58
1958 - 59
1959 - 60
1960 - 61
Items
Hours
3,314
3,317
5,820
5,824
7.319
8,133
8,806
9,805
90. Portable tape recorders were taken out on an average of 134 times a month. These occasions were normally the recording of inter- views. This amount of use was a considerable increase over last year, which averaged 70 occasions a month.
OUTSIDE BROADCASTS
91. The extensive broadcasting coverage given to public events in the Colony by means of outside broadcasts in both the English and Chinese Service was maintained during the year.
92. VHF link equipment was frequently used for linking outside broadcasts sites to studios when lines were not available. VHF 'walkie- talkies' were often used to link several different Outside Broadcast points together. Exhibitions, fairs and the New Year's Eve round-up were typical Outside Broadcasts in this context.
93. A VHF/FM linear amplifier capable of 50 watts output was designed and constructed in the Cable and Wireless Workshop. This amplifier was used in conjuction with a link transmitter in establishing a VHF circuit between Macau and Hong Kong during the commentary
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