CO537-5142 — Page 177

Typex

INWARD TELEGRAM

This document must be paraphrased if the communication of its contents to any person outside Government Service is authorised.

100.

No. 682 Secret

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COPY FOR

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

D. 8th July, 1949

B

8th

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09.20 hrs.

JUL 1949

Your telegram No. 821.

Broadcasting.

Siting of broadcasting transmitters has been further considered by Cable and Wireless engineers but they consider that Hung Hom site is unsuitable for the following reasons.

(a)

(16)

(c)

Copies sent to:-

Geographical positiop. It is situated at sea level. and surroundered by high hills towering to 2,500 feet. There is also a 300 foot hill in the immediate vicinity which covers the Canton direction.

The site is approximately 600 feet by 325 feet and occupies a city block which it is impossible to expand. On this site there are already twenty aerials serving both broadcasting and Aeradio.

The height of the existing towers would not allow the erection of an efficient aerial and there ia ao Foom for the erectice of a proper stayed radiator or additional towers, It will be seen from the above that irrespective of any new broadcasting project, there is a pressing need for a new and more suitable transmitter site and the acquistion of new and more powerful transmitters would be to a great extept wasted unless made the occasion of a move which is in any case long overdue, The position at Hung Hom is becoming more difficult as Aeradio commitmente continue to increase. Cable and Wireless engineers have now revised the estimates as set out in my savingram No. 100 for capital cost of installation on Mount Cameron. By cutting out certain very desirable but not indispensible features they have reduced the estimate from £69,90 to £45,925 (Hong Kong $735,000). of revised estimates follow by savingram.

Details

Foreign Office

3

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G. P. O. ( 0. T. D. ')

Sta

Mr. Ralph Murray

Mr. P. W. S. Scarlett

Mr. F. E. Jones

INFORMATION

1 1 JUL 1949

REGISTRY