ENG-1961 — Page 321

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PUBLICATIONS, BROADCASTING AND FILMS

leaflets, films and other visual aids to promote a better under- standing between the public and Government. For overseas dis- tribution the division concentrates largely upon the production of newsreels, feature articles and photo-features.

The short film has proved an invaluable medium for reaching large sections of Hong Kong's population, and an excellent vehicle for projecting Hong Kong overseas. For this reason the Film Unit of the Department concentrated upon the production of newsreel shorts during 1961. The distribution of these newsreels through the Central Office of Information, London, met with considerable success. In most cases this Department's productions were accepted by six or more major newsreel and television distributors, such as Pathé, Movietone and MGM, distributing to cinemas, and the British Commonwealth International Newsfilm Agency, UPI Television and the US Telenews distributing to television circuits in many countries. This wide acceptance of newsreel films by commercial agencies, coupled with full use of the material in officially sponsored reels such as 'British News' and 'British Television News' meant that millions of cinema and television audiences throughout the world had the opportunity to view regularly film stories depicting many aspects of Hong Kong's problems and development. Subjects dealt with include dam build- ing, agricultural development, various aspects of Hong Kong's medical and social welfare services and, towards the end of the year, a number of items covering the visit of HRH Princess Alexandra to the Colony.

In addition to newsreel production, six short black and white comedy films were made in connexion with a Road Safety cam- paign and six colour films were made for the Fire Services, which pointed up dramatically simple but important fire prevention pre- cautions. These, with the co-operation of distributors and cinema managers, were released in Hong Kong for commercial showing over a period of six months. Productions for local release either through cinemas or through the Department's own 16mm library, also included a 15-minute film on anti-Tuberculosis measures and two 5-minute Cantonese films, one on the Tsuen Wan community centre and another on ship-breaking. By the end of the year a 15-minute Eastmancolour film on Hong Kong's colourful sea festivals, planned for overseas release, was nearing completion.