1967 at the latest. The new station, when completed, should offer a con- siderably improved service in most parts of the Colony and it is hoped it will meet with the requirements of those who have voiced complaints, especially residents of the New Territories, that Radio Hong Kong's broadcasts cannot be received satisfactorily.
4. The number of broadcasting receiving licences in force continued to give grounds for concern since it is believed that the number of radio receivers in use considerably exceeds the number of licences in force. On the 1st April, 1965, the number of licences in force was 140,909. However, a re-organization of procedures and an increase in staff in the Postmaster General's Department, the authority responsible for the issue of licences, resulted in a rise in the total to 166,350 at the end of March 1966. This figure is still considered to be too low and efforts are being made to enforce the legislation which requires the purchase and renewal of annual licences (H.K. $20 per annum) and thus increase the revenue to which Government is entitled.
5. The Second General Assembly of the Asian Broadcasting Union was held in Tokyo from 21st to 29th October. The department was represented by the Acting Director of Broadcasting, Mr. I. D. KINGSLEY and the Broadcasting Engineer, Mr. R. A. WINYARD. A number of important matters were discussed and a number of resolutions passed. One of the more important to public service broadcasting organizations is worth reproducing here:
'Recognizing the immense power of broadcasting as a medium of mass communication, we believe that in the context of the Asian situation, it places special responsibilities on the members of the Union to ensure that the enormous potentialities of the medium are used properly for the common good. We recognize that entertain- ment must have a legitimate place in broadcasting but by itself is not enough. The primary purpose should be its utilization for con- structive social objectives particularly in the developing countries.
Education and the dissemination of knowledge and information through the broadcasting media should be our immediate aim, but we would stress that these objectives must be understood in their widest sense, for the betterment of the community as a whole.'
6. It has been recognized for some time that the present staff struc- ture of the department has been unsatisfactory and considerable efforts were made during the year to draw up and secure approval for a re- grading scheme. Although approval for the new scheme was given in
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