Radio_Hong_Kong_1956-1957 — Page 14

Hours of broadcasting were:-

April 1st-November 3rd

Weekdays & Saturdays Sundays

Public Holidays

November 4th-March 31st

Weekdays

Saturdays

Sundays

Public Holidays

0800-0900; 1130-1400; 1800-2330. 1200-2330.

0800-2330.

0800-0900; 1130-1400; 1730-2330. 0800-0900; 1130-2330. 1000-2330.

0800-2330.

37. The Chinese programmes were carried by the medium wave transmitter on 640 kc/s and on the short wave transmitter on 3940 kc/s.

38. Languages used were Cantonese 57.43%, Kuoyu 31.76%, Swatow 9.23% and Hakka 1.58%. Hakka broadcasts were introduced during the year in order to provide a news service for Hakka speaking people in the New Territories.

39. Whilst normal programme patterns and schedules were maintained, there was a great deal of back-room work during the year of which the public was not aware, but the results of which will be apparent during the next year. There were increases in the amount of Cantonese opera broadcast from theatres; talks, features and magazine programmes were main- tained at the previous year's level, further experiments in adapting English radio drama and variety shows proved success- ful, and there was a marked increase among younger listeners in the popularity of Western music, both classical and popular.

Music.

40. Over fifty Cantonese operas were broadcast from theatres, three of these being charity performances to raise funds for the Chinese Artists Association. Although the total number of operas broadcast exceeded that of the previous year, it does not approach that of the years prior to the dispute with theatre managements over relay conditions.

The increase in broadcast opera led to a reduction in the number of studio concerts of Cantonese music. An average of two a week were broadcast of 24 hours duration. The Sunday concert was performed by opera stars and professional singers, while the Thursday concert was given by the musical groups of various clansmen and trade union associations. A one hour

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