Radio_Hong_Kong_1970-1971 — Page 13

News Magazines

25. Radio Hong Kong's daily news magazine service "Topics' con- tinued to provide two programmes a day and in addition there were numerous special features on important world and local events.

26. Staffing problems made continuity of operation difficult during the year but the recruitment programme which is now reaching fruition should give this section new stability and scope.

27. "Topics' staff operate both from Broadcasting House and Radio Hong Kong's Island studios in Sutherland House. Programmes may be produced and presented from either location by permanent land lines which link the studios.

28. A decision was taken during the year to instal a tape cartridge system which is expected to speed up the transfer of tapes and news stories.

29. Investigations are also underway into the possibility of manning mobile radio cars to supply both the English and Chinese news teams with live radio links between reporters in the field and the studios.

30. The Audience Research Survey carried out during the year was helpful in clearly indicating a demand for more international news in the morning programmes and the need for more local news in the evening edition. This policy was developed during the year and seems to have proved generally acceptable. Both Topics' and its Chinese counterpart Topical Events' liaise closely with the Radio News section of Government Information Services to provide complementary coverage on local events.

31. On the international scene 'Topics' provided up-to-the-minute news on the drama of Apollo 13 and the Russian Lunar 16 and also the launching of the first Chinese space satellite. The 1970 General Election brought non-stop live coverage on election results in which "Topics' staff formed an important part of a news team which utilized the full resources of the BBC, Reuters, United Press Inter- national, Survey Research Hong Kong and the Department of Political Economy of the University of Hong Kong.

32. On the local scene "Topics' reporters met and interviewed, amongst others, the American singer Pat BoONE, British comedian

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