TNAG-1077-FCO40-1327-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-BBC-relay-station-1981 — Page 44

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Dear Dick,

38

sen't pins

Gray inf. Dept

Secretary for Information, Room 1710, New World Tower, 16-18 Queen's Road Central, HONG KONG.

23rd July, 1981

Proposed Cutting of the BBC Transcription Service

518.

3/

Seal 40

You may find it helpful to have some indication of how radio broadcasting in Hong Kong might be affected by the suggested reductions in the transcription service.

The main victim would be RTHK's Radio 4, which stands to lose up to 25% of its current output. Two main areas would be hit, which together currently make up some 900 hours of broadcasting per year. The first is of direct concern to you and to us, as it would affect the promotion of the United Kingdom's image overseas. RTHK broadcasts on Radio 4 some 90 hours p.a. of 'topical tapes' and some 80 hours p.a. of talks on background issues and developments in United Kingdom. The second group includes drama, serious music and lighter programmes. Much of this springs from England's rich and varied cultural heritage, and could be said to be a "soft-sell" of all the U.K. stands for.

One must not forget that most of the Radio 4 audience is expatriate; but it is nevertheless, although small, a significant local audience, with repercussive capacity across the community through its contacts and readiness to write to the press and join in telephone radio programmes.

R.D. Clift, Esq.,

Hong Kong & General Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

Great George Street,

London SW1A 2AH,

ENGLAND.

/Hong