Radio_Hong_Kong_1968-1969 — Page 14

34. In addition to locally compiled bulletins Radio Hong Kong regularly relays news bulletins from the British Broadcasting Corpora- tion. These consist of daily bulletins in English from the World Service, together with 'News about Britain' and 'Commentary', and the Chinese Service takes daily bulletins in Cantonese and Kuoyu from the Far Eastern Service, supplemented by commentaries, topical talks, etc.

NEWS MAGAZINES

35. Both programme services broadcast news magazine programmes which achieve high listener ratings. The Chinese Service programme is called 'Topical Events' and the English Service equivalent "Topics'.

36. 'Topical Events', at 1.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. daily, covers all aspects of life in Hong Kong from happenings in the teeming Central District to those on the remote villages on islands and the mainland New Territories. Over the past few years this series has achieved a considerable reputation for its value in keeping people well informed on what is going on in Hong Kong, and by providing a useful vehicle for the dissemination of Government information. For instance, side by side with actuality recordings at a large fire, are official explanations and interviews concerning the need to clear a squatter area or for a change in hawker control regulations. Since the broadcasting services of the Colony reach nine out of ten homes (see Audience Research below) programmes such as 'Topical Events' offer important channels for Government to close the so-called 'information gap', between it and the people.

37. 'Topics' is broadcast three times daily at 8.10 a.m., 1.10 p.m. and 7.10 p.m. Material is drawn from coverage of local events, visiting personalities, background news reports, press conferences and recordings from overseas broadcasting organizations.

38. During the year "Topics' explanded its coverage of international news and included the regular use of actuality from the B.B.C.'s Radio News Reel and the Voice of America which made possible on the spot reports of major world events such as the 'Apollo' series of space flights. One of the highlights of the year was the coverage of the 1968 American Presidential elections. At this time the Editor of Topics, who was attending a course in the United States, was able to file reports on the elections direct from New York.

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