ENG-1962 — Page 327

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PUBLICATIONS, BROADCASTING AND FILMS

showed that the majority of those given such assistance had been favourably impressed by the way Hong Kong is tackling her problems and had reported on the Colony's achievements to readers and audiences totalling many millions.

The department's activities reached a peak in April and May when, without warning, large numbers of Chinese began to cross the land frontier into Hong Kong. The local press was quick to give full coverage to this influx of illegal immigrants and, as it continued, newspapers the world over began giving it headlines on their front pages. Scores of questions were received daily in the department from local and overseas press representatives, all of them demanding detailed answers with the minimum delay (for details of the influx of illegal immigrants in April and May please see Immigration, chapter 13).

Even in what may be classed as 'normal' times the pressure of work in the department is maintained at an unusually high level, since newspapers and other news media must by their very nature compete not only against each other but also against the clock. The press division, headed by a chief press officer who arrived in the Colony in January having formerly been assistant editor of a British national daily newspaper, has English and Chinese- speaking officers on duty call at any hour of the day or night—a service primarily designed to assist newspapermen who require information when the majority of other Government departments have closed.

During the year the radio newsroom, a sub-section of the press division, again increased the number of its daily bulletins. In the English language there are now full 10-minute bulletins daily at 8 a.m., 1.15 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a shorter bulletin at 7.15 a.m. and headline summaries at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight. Full 10-minute bulletins in Chinese are broadcast at 8 a.m., 12 noon, 1.15 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m., with a headline summary at midnight. Most bulletins are broadcast simultaneously by the Colony's three radio stations, though some are scheduled for in- dependent relay to fit in with other programmes. There is no doubt that the bulletins play a vital part in keeping many thousands of Hong Kong people informed, quickly and concisely, of events in the Colony and overseas.