48. Despite the fact that the troupe is only one year old some 50 shows have been put on during the period covered by the report. This number far exceeds that achieved by any equivalent professional troupe and is a tribute to the hard work and enthusiasm of all its members. All the shows are recorded for subsequent broadcast on Sunday evenings. Tapes have also been supplied to the Hong Kong Government Office in London for the entertainment of Chinese residents in Britain.
49. On the lighter side record request programmes continue to be as popular as ever and the number of letters received each day far exceeds the ability to meet demands as promptly as could be desired. Request programme announcers like Vivian SHUM and Nancy WONG quickly became public idols and receive a large fan mail. The continuing popularity of Western music amongst young Chinese listeners is also reflected by the number of outside broadcasts of tea-dance and pop- shows at the City Hall.
50. Approximately twenty plays were broadcast each week, and of these the daily serial, which takes a humourous look at life in Hong Kong, drew the largest audiences. Stories adapted from film scripts, and the sound tracks of films also maintained their popularity, as did the daily programmes for children.
51. As a result of the audience survey, a considerable reduction was made in the use of Chinese music and opera from regions of China other than Kwangtung, since it is clear that this type of programme material has little general appeal.
English Service
52. One of the remarkable features of Hong Kong cultural life is the considerable interest in Western music, reflected by the popularity of the Schools Music Festival, in which many thousands of young people take part, and by the fact that there are more than 400 teachers of the piano alone, Radio Hong Kong's English Service has always regarded the encouragement of young artists as a responsibility, and devotes over 20% of programme time to serious music, both from the concert platform and the studio.
53. To cater for the growing enthusiasm for serious music, the English Service separated the AM and FM services nightly from 9.15 p.m. onwards. The FM service became known as the Fine Music Service and prominence was given to a wide range of major works
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