Radio_Hong_Kong_1968-1969 — Page 8

the news agencies of Reuters and UPI, Commercial Radio and Rediffu- sion by teleprinter and facsimile circuits.

5. In my last report, I referred to the Public Affairs Television Production Unit, which was to be set up to produce documentary and other public affairs programmes for transmission by Hong Kong Tele- vision Broadcasts Ltd. and Rediffusion (HK) Ltd. It was expected that the Unit (which has been renamed the Government Television Unit) would be in full operation during 1969. Progress has however been slower than anticipated, as a number of factors caused plans to be changed. It is probable that the Unit will now be accommodated in Broadcasting House, by making modifications to studios and other areas to enable them to be used for television production. Meanwhile staff recruitment and training is in hand, and the Controller of the Unit is expected to be appointed during the second half of 1969.

6. I also referred in my last report to the reception difficulties which had been encountered on the English Service mediumwave frequency of 860 kHz after the new Golden Hill transmitting station was opened. These difficulties were caused by poor soil conductivity at Golden Hill, and in order to overcome them, tests on a lower frequency of 545 kHz were made, found successful, and during the course of the year, engineers of Standard Telephone and Cables (Pty.) of Australia, the manufacturers of the transmitters, made modifications which enabled a permanent change to 545 kHz to be made on 17th November, 1968. The new frequency gives very much better reception throughout the Colony.

7. It is pleasant to be able to record, for the first time in several years, that the Department was not affected by the strains and stresses of floods, typhoons or civil disturbances. The 1967 disturbances required Radio Hong Kong to assume a new role in which all staff and facilities were devoted to the main aim of countering rumours and propaganda. The legacy of this period has been the development of a pattern of public affairs broadcasts the aim of which is to develop and sustain strong links between the Government and the people.

8. 1968 saw this development begin, and it was accompanied by an important piece of research, the results of which will be of consider- able value in planning radio services in the early part of the next decade. This research was a survey of listening habits and attitudes of the audience to the Chinese language radio. Further details will be found elsewhere in this report, but the main point which emerged is that,

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