ENG-1962 — Page 338

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PUBLICATIONS, BROADCASTING AND FILMS

impressions of correspondents who by the nature of their work travel extensively throughout south-east Asia and the Far East.

A series of discussion programmes of interest was Meeting Point. In this, seven prominent personalities the editor of a leading English-language newspaper, the Dean of the Anglican Church, a Jesuit priest, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, a Far Eastern political commentator, the Secretary of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and a leading businessman-were invited in turn to answer questions about themselves, their work and philosophies by a panel of four Chinese students. After a little practise the students became adept at conducting interviews 'in depth' and no one was allowed to get away with a half-hearted answer. The recruitment of a drama producer to the staff has had a marked effect on the standard and frequency of local productions. Patient auditions revealed a considerable amount of local radio talent and regular plays are now produced in the studios.

The interests of sports enthusiasts are looked after by com- mentaries on local fixtures, and by relays of international sporting events in Britain, the United States and Australia. Full coverage was given to the visit of the 1962 Commonwealth Cricket XI-and the commentators enjoyed, as much as the public did, the oppor- tunity to talk about such players as Graveney, Ramadhin and Benaud, against whom local cricketers put up strong resistance. One thrilling broadcast concerned a match which was decided by the last ball of the last over.

A programme which aroused considerable interest among listeners to the English service was Cantonese by Radio. The response was so encouraging that it was decided to repeat the series in the winter months of 1962-3 and a special booklet was prepared setting out details of the lessons in full. There is no doubt that there is also a great deal of interest in many other of Radio Hong Kong's more educational broadcasts. Too often listeners complain that they miss interesting talks given during the day at a time when they are at work and, while very often these broadcasts are repeats of an earlier evening transmission, it nevertheless demonstrates the difficulty of satisfying the wide variety of interests that exist in Hong Kong with only one English transmission.