ENG-1974 — Page 216

THE MEDIA

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Department. This important contribution to the local educational system is now in its fourth year and produces programmes on a wide range of educational subjects for primary schools which are transmitted five days a week.

With the termination of Rediffusion's exclusive wired franchise at the end of 1973, the way was opened for the introduction of legislation enabling the use of aerial distribution systems, broadcast relay services and closed circuit television sys- tems. The use of these had been inhibited by the terms of the wired franchise. Due to Hong Kong's hilly terrain together with the large number of high-rise buildings, there are many areas where difficulty is experienced in receiving adequate television signals. Wired relay services and aerial distribution systems can therefore have an important part to play in ensuring satisfactory viewing for such areas. Additionally, it is hoped that the general wide-scale use of these systems will lead eventually to a reduction in the number of unsightly aerial arrays which disfigure so many buildings in Hong Kong.

Progress in the adoption of these systems during the year has not been as rapid as expected, but there are signs that both property developers and architects are beginning to realise the benefits which these systems can provide. The government has taken the lead by installing aerial distribution systems in its housing estate developments.

In 1974 there were four broadcast relay systems introduced by Broadcast Relay Services. The same company also introduced Hong Kong's first closed-circuit hotel television service which shows entertainment feature films in the guest rooms of two major local hotels.

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Sound Broadcasting

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Hong Kong is served by two radio broadcasting organisations each operating English and Chinese sound channels. Radio Hong Kong is financed from general revenue and carries no advertising. As the government radio station, Radio Hong Kong is charged with producing radio and television programmes which inform, educate and entertain. All the services offered by Radio Hong Kong operated under the station's own management for the first full year in 1974.

A principal function of Radio Hong Kong is the production of bulletins on local and overseas news. Coverage of news in 1974 was such that the station was able to offer the public three bulletins dealing with news in depth, a news summary, and hourly headlines every day in Chinese and English. This coverage gave the public a balanced picture of both international and, more particularly, domestic news.

Although the station makes news and public affairs programmes its prime con- sideration, these are set within a pattern of other programmes. Both the Chinese and the English services set out to win larger and more discerning audiences by a variety of programmes, on each channel, which are designed to cater for different tastes.

Radio Hong Kong's television unit does not have colour recording facilities yet, but the problem is overcome to some extent by using colour film wherever possible and hiring colourised outside-broadcast units. On the programme side the main