Radio_Hong_Kong_1963-1964 — Page 7

INTRODUCTION

RADIO Hong Kong broadcasts two separate services, in English and Chinese. Both are on the air from 7 a.m. to midnight daily. Cantonese is the main Chinese Service language, but Kuoyu, Chiuchow and Hakka are also used for news bulletins and important announcements.

2. As a public service broadcasting organization, Radio Hong Kong carries no advertising and is financed from general revenue. Income from Broadcast Receiving Licences covers part of the expenditure, and Govern- ment also derives revenue from the licence fees paid by Rediffusion (H.K.) Ltd., and the annual royalty paid by the Hong Kong Commercial Broad- casting Company, Ltd. On 31st March, 1964, there were 143,298 licences in force. A licence, which is in respect of a receiving station and not in- dividual sets, costs $20 per annum and revenue for the year 1963-64 was $2,865,960. The Departmental Report for 1962-63 noted the concern felt over the effectiveness of the licensing system. It was not possible to take remedial action to improve the system during the year and the small growth in the number of licences between 1st April, 1963, and 31st March, 1964, i.e. 1,147 reflected yet more clearly the drawbacks of the present system. It is expected however that new measures will be taken to improve the position during 1964. I calculate that there are between 500,000 and 600,000 radio receivers in use in the Colony, and licence evasion is causing a considerable loss of revenue.

3. The studio centre of Radio Hong Kong is in Mercury House, the Far East Headquarters of Cable and Wireless Ltd. Other studios, offices and engineering maintenance facilities are accommodated in Beaconsfield House, Central Government Offices and the old Naval Dockyard. The 1962-63 report referred to plans for re-accommodating the entire Depart- ment in the main building of the old Naval Dockyard, which was to be converted for the purpose. Work began on the conversion in January, 1964, but by the end of March the extensive structural alterations made to the building, which was over one hundred years old, resulted in a serious weakening of the fabric and the project had to be abandoned. At the time of writing this Report various alternative schemes were under active consideration.

4. The engineering services of Radio Hong Kong are all carried out by Cable and Wireless Ltd. The Company provides equipment, as well

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