consoles were ordered to replace the obsolete equipment in use in the Chinese continuity suite, and in order to increase the number of available programme input channels in the new Concert Hall control room. The latter improvement should mean that a complicated feature involving a studio cast, with echo facilities plus recorded or live remote contributions, can be produced as a composite live broadcast.
Transport.
19. The lack of suitable outside recording or broadcast vans has hampered imaginative programming for several years. Two Austin Omnicoaches were ordered during the year as part of the expansion plan to remedy this shortcoming. They will be used as combined passenger carrying Outside Broadcasting and Recording vehicles. Certain modifications will be necessary involving the installation of rack mountings to carry V.H.F. transmitters and tape recording units with power supplies, and the installation of roof platforms to carry transmitting and receiving aerials and commentators. When not in use for live outside broadcasts these vans will be used for such purposes as transporting artists and engineers to remote broadcast sites.
Transmitters.
20. Tests were carried out throughout the year from various sites in the Colony in order to determine the most suitable method of improving the present inadequate reception of both services in certain areas. Reception shortcomings are a com- bination of inadequate signal strength, electrical interference and the type of medium waveband interference which has been so serious in Europe since the end of the war.
21. The engineering tests, which yielded much valuable data, were carried out by the Postmaster General in collaboration with Cable and Wireless, and included in October and November a test using a small transmitter at Fanling in which the public were asked to cooperate. The many letters received from New Territories listeners were a valuable addition to the technical data. The question was still under consideration at the end of the year.
Programmes.
22. Neither staff nor facilities were improved to the extent that the envisaged expansion and improvement of services could
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