ENG-1958 — Page 303

PRESS, PUBLISHING, BROADCASTING, FILMS AND TOURISM 253

event with special programmes. In English and Chinese, docu- mentary programmes looked back to the birth and growth of broadcasting in Hong Kong, and the English programme included contributions for the occasion from many Commonwealth broad- casting organizations. Artists who have been broadcasting for many years took part in recitals, concerts, plays and variety shows spread over 30th June and 1st and 2nd July.

A major decision taken during the year was that improvements in reception of Radio Hong Kong services will be made by the introduction of VHF/FM transmissions.

Reception of the medium wave transmissions has never been satisfactory outside the urban areas, and the growth of inter- ference from both foreign stations and electrical apparatus has degraded the service given in the urban areas themselves. After exhaustive tests by Cable and Wireless engineers, it was finally decided during the year that the earlier schemes envisaging a strengthening of the medium wave transmissions should be dropped in favour of VHF/FM. 5 Kw. transmitters will be in- stalled in a new transmitting station on Mount Gough. These transmitters should give adequate coverage of the entire Colony and it is hoped to have the service in operation by the autumn of 1959.

Technical facilities generally were further improved during the year with the arrival of additional recording and studio control units. A permanent echo chamber was constructed to provide drama and music programme producers with a wider range of acoustic effects. Two VHF/FM' mobile transmitters were installed in outside broadcast vans and proved valuable in the handling of complex programmes such as the annual Walkathon and the cross-harbour swimming race.

To improve the production of news bulletins, two news studios were under construction in the new West Wing of the Central Government Offices, in the section to be occupied by the Public Relations Office which is responsible for the preparation of news broadcasts.

The effect of the all-day Chinese programme service, introduced in mid-1957, was shown by the increase in the number of radio licences. The increase in 1957 was 5,749. At the end of December 1958 licences stood at 71,631, an increase of 7,145 over 1957.