Radio_Hong_Kong_1964-1965 — Page 33

Typhoon Damage

69. Although Typhoon Ida was not by any means the strongest typhoon which struck the Colony last year it caused the most damage to the VHF/FM transmitters. The high power sections of all four trans- mitters were extensively damaged by rain water blown in through the exhaust air ducts, and both programmes were interrupted for several hours whilst repairs were carried out. To prevent a similar recurrence the cowls on the exhaust ducts and inlet apertures of the building were subsequently extended downwards by a further two feet.

70. With the abnormally high number of typhoons affecting the Colony last year it was not surprising to find that some of the bracing members of the 135 ft. self-supporting tower had buckled; the maximum recorded gust of Typhoon Ruby, incidentally, was as nearly 170 m.p.h. The damage has now been repaired.

Mount Butler Receiving Station

71. During the year under review a total of 1,766 English and 1,138 Chinese programmes were received for direct relay or recording by Radio Hong Kong. An increase of 22% in English programmes over the previous year was mostly due to the reception of N.H.K. for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The 5% increase in the Chinese programmes, compared with the previous year, was due to the additional relay of the B.B.C. News in Cantonese each morning which commenced on 1st February, 1965.

72. Apart from the Tokyo Olympic Games other notable world events of which broadcasts were relayed from overseas included the U.K. General Election in October, the State Opening of Parliament, the U.S. Presidential Election in November, the funeral of Sir Winston CHURCHILL in January and the launching of the 'Gemini' spacecraft in February.

73. The standard of reception of B.B.C. direct has been generally fair. During the winter months propagation on 21 Mc/s and 17 Mc/s was favourable; reception was confined to 15 Mc/s or lower although these frequencies generally deteriorated after 2100 GMT.

ADMINISTRATION

STAFF

74. The Assistant Director, Mr. I. D. KINGSLEY, returned from vacation in May, 1964. The Director, Mr. D. E. BROOKS, went on 6 weeks'

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