ENG-1953 — Page 204

THE PRESS, BROADCASTING, FILMS AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES

in the number of outside broadcasts (remarkable in the case of the Chinese station) is a good illustration of this trend:

ZBW (English) ZEK (Chinese)

1952

1953

1952

1953

Number of Outside

Broadcasts

11

18

6

41

The rise in the number of locally-produced radio plays and 'live' music programmes is equally noteworthy:

Plays

Music Recitals

1952

1953

8

28

49

125

Important yearly events in Hong Kong's calendar, such as the Queen's Birthday Parade, the Hong Kong Product's Exhibition and the Remembrance Day ceremony (broadcast for the first time in Chinese) were given full coverage in both languages. Notable programmes included a "double" broadcast on the New Territories Agricultural Show; three features of the new series "In Your Service" (ZBW & ZEK); a magazine pro- gramme for youth "Contact" (ZBW); a popular request programme "Sincerely Yours" (ZEK); two separate British Council programmes (ZBW & ZEK); and weekly religious services from the Chinese studios. At the request of the Police and Medical Departments, a number of dramatized features were broadcast in Chinese which gave point and punch to seasonal "drives".

1953 was an exceptionally busy and stimulating year for broadcasters, and the experience gained will act as a spur to future expansion. A plan to increase programme hours was under close study at the end of the year.

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