Radio_Hong_Kong_1961-1962 — Page 38

Hong Kong's activities and operations. The Chinese listener panel has been a great success in Radio Hong Kong's efforts to further its investigations into the habits and preferences of listeners, and plans were put in hand for the organization of an English service listener panel.

129. In addition to panel operations a survey was carried out in co-operation with the District Commissioner, New Territories, into listening conditions in 135 villages in the New Territories. The purpose of the investigation was to determine those villages which had no or few radio sets and thus could not be expected to keep in touch with important developments in the Colony. This might result in villagers missing important special announcements such as typhoon warnings, instructions regarding the Registration of Persons Ordinance and other matters which effect their daily lives. The results of this survey are now being analysed in conjunction with the Postmaster General's Depart- ment. It is hoped that a scheme can be introduced whereby certain villages, which are ill-equipped in far listening facilities, may be issued with adequate receivers.

WEATHER REPORTS

130. Weather Reports supplied by the Royal Observatory continued to be broadcast frequently by the English and Chinese services. In normal times weather information is sent directly from the Royal Observatory to the Information Services Department by teleprinter circuit in English. The information is then distributed to the press and radio organizations in Hong Kong by teleprinter link in English and by telephone communication in Chinese. However, experience during the typhoons of 1961-62 showed that there was undue delay in dis- tributing quickly vital information in Chinese during an emergency. The delays were mainly caused by the time it took to telephone and check back weather report details between the offices concerned. A special announcing both at the Royal Observatory has now been installed and during future typhoons announcements will be made direct by Radio Hong Kong from the Observatory. The broadcasts will be relayed by the other two radio organizations. The simultaneous broad- cast of the latest information in Chinese will considerably speed up the operation and assist listeners in obtaining up-to-date weather reports and forecasts. The information in English will continue to be distributed by the teleprinter network of the Information Services Department

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