184
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Treasury three-fourths of the cost as being its equitable share of the outlay. Feeling that the Secretary of State would not have accepted this proportion as representing the Imperial Government's just obligation unless it had appealed to him as eminently fair, as I may say it does to us, we earnestly hope that further strong representations will be made to the Imperial Government to increase its contribution to the full three-fourths. The Aerodrome, while it will be a valuable local asset, will be a still more valuable Imperial asset as a vital link in the communications of the Empire."
The present Unofficial members of this Council, who now number eight against six a year ago, unanimously endorse the above view expressed by all the Unofficial members last year.
Broadcasting is an important modern method of communication, of which this Colony has not availed itself to any considerable extent.
We are not here referring to the transmission of musical programmes for "bright young people," but to something far more important; things that are likely to contribute to make Hong Kong the commercial centre of a large area that is to say, the distribution of all kinds of market quotations, shipping news, news of the world, in short everything that is likely to be of interest or value to commerce and shipping.
To-day our range is about fifty miles but with an expenditure of about $200,000 and an annual contribution of about $80,000 we could have an effective range of 400 miles.
Consider, for a moment, the man in Foochow whose news from here is always four days old or the merchant at a place like Wuchow. What a boon an effective broadcasting system from Hong Kong would be!
On the value of broadcasting for propaganda purposes we need not dwell, for that is apparent. The Right Honourable Mr. Ormsby Gore, in his Report already referred to, after pointing out that considerable progress had been made in Ceylon in the development of a broadcasting service, says, on page 129, in regard to Java: "There are no less than six broadcasting transmitting stations in Java. News, information, entertainment and education are transmitted to listeners in different parts of the Island. In wireless telegraphy there is the very large high-power long and short wave station at Malabar and a newer short wave station nearer Bandoeng. These communicate direct with Europe and with the United States of America;" and lower down he says:-"Such developments are far ahead of anything yet accomplished in the British Colonial Dependencies."
On page 12, item 33 of the Estimates and on page 100 we notice some rather puzzling figures regarding Military Contribution.
55-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.