Radio_Hong_Kong_1961-1962 — Page 25

groups are being met and that the English service continues to offer its diverse audience the reliable and acceptable source of information, education and entertainment which listeners desire.

70. In spite of the fact that the English service was short-staffed for much of the year, due to leave and recruitment problems, many new and interesting programmes were introduced in addition to maintaining the highest possible standard of output.

71. As was noted in the General Introduction of this report, a large proportion of the increases in the number of outside broadcasts and recorded interviews have been reflected in the programmes of the English service. These have gone a long way to meet the self-criticism noted in the previous Annual Departmental Report concerning the ability of the English programme service to reflect as fully as possible the many-sided life of Hong Kong. For example, the daily news pro- gramme 'Today' improved considerably in its quality and scope and has now established itself as one of the most important broadcasts of the Colony. This policy of maintaining as much topicality as possible in the English service was reflected in other programmes such as 'Women's World' and 'Movie Magazine', and even the childrens' programmes incorporated a specially compiled news bulletin of interest to the younger audience.

72. During the year the results of the English service Listeners' Competition were analysed, and many useful programme suggestions, which had been obtained from the results of the competition, were incorporated wherever possible. Although the requirements of the com- petition were such that the conclusions would indicate a qualitative rather than a quantitative survey of the popularity of the programmes, much useful information about the age, sex and occupation of the entrants was obtained. This material is always of considerable interest to programme planners, whose task it is to try to ensure that peak hours of broadcasting continue to provide programmes of interest to as wide an audience as possible.

Serious Music

PROGRAMMES

73. This was an historic year in the musical life of the Colony. The London Philharmonic Orchestra, whose visit coincided with the opening of the City Hall in March 1962, gave many Hong Kong people their first sight and sound of a great British orchestra in action.

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