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HONG KONG BROADCASTING STUDIO
Noted
on 46837.
2
11th August, 1948.
The question of transmitters is, of course, as you know, a very thorny one, and I discussed with Blackburne the possibilities of installing a moderately high-powered medium wave to cover the south China area. He will mention this to you when he gets home, and I should very much like to know what line you want me to take at this end.
Another matter which I should like to discuss with you privately in this letter is the question of recruitment of staff and the basis on which staff would be exchanged with the B.B.C. I discussed with Norman Lloyd Williams the question of our own personal positions as regards the Colonial Services and the B.B.C., and although I do not know the B.B.C.'s official attitude, I feel very strongly that all broadcasting personnel in the Colonies recruited through the Corporation, such as myself, should return after doing their three year contract to a job in London, where they can again become acquainted with all the latest developments in broadcasting. If possible, their places being taken by a member of the Corporation staff or the Colonial Broadcasting Service who has recently been doing training in London. Blackburne had not apparently come to any definite conclusions about broadcasting staff, as the whole matter is still at such an early stage in its development, but when I made the se suggestions to him, he seemed quite interested. Of course, as far as
I myself am concerned, I do not want to stay in this Colony for more than my three year contract, as I feel that in three years any creative use- fulness one might have had away from any cultural centre like London would be used up.
Whether, of course, you agree, I cannot say, but I should like very much to know your opinion so that I can put forward a suggestion to you through the local Government about the future of recruitment of a personnel.
We
Amongst the posts which I hope to have created as a result of the raising of licence fees, mentioned earlier, is a permanent 'announcer/scriptwriter/ producer', because any newcomer here in broadcasting must have a very versatile approach and be a good all-rounder rather than a specialist. have one candidate available in the Colony, Phillip Burn, at present in the Navy, whom I should like to see sent home to the B.B.C. for a special training course, and further practice and experience before taking up the appointment, and I should like to know what his position would be with regard to the Colonial Broadcasting Service or B.B.C?
For your amusement, I enclose some recent pages from the Hong Kong Telegraph in which our week's programmes are previewed, and also a supplement with
a few photographs of the station taken last spring. Once again, I do apoligise
for not having written to you before, but if you like, I will keep you informed much more closely in what is going on in Hong Kong, and will send these programme pages monthly. One last point. Would you please ring up J.B. Clark or someone high up in the Corporation and tell them how enormously the B.B.C. Transcription Service is appreciated in the Colony. I have often mentioned this to Ivor Thomas, Irene Elford, and Eastwood. I cannot tell you the enormous difference it makes to programme planning when all the time you feel that at your finger-tips you have the finest talks, music, plays and features ready for immediate use, especially in a place like Hong Kong, which is an intellectual and cultural vacuum!!
My very best wished to your and your wife.
Yours sincerely,
Dennis Kaith Hanky.
P.S. Our family now includes a daughter, Sarah Charlotte, born on
the 8th of August.