ENG-1981 — Page 252

THE MEDIA

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Hong Kong is the base of Southeast Asian operations for many newspapers, magazines and news agencies. International news agencies represented include United Press Interna- tional, Associated Press, Agence France Presse, and Reuters.

Several organisations represent and cater for people working in the news media in Hong Kong. The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong, comprises correspondent, journalist and associate members. Its professional activities include lectures, news con- ferences, briefings and film shows.

The Hong Kong Press Club, located in Wan Chai, provides a variety of facilities for journalists. The office of the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) is based at the Hong Kong Press Club. The HKJA seeks to raise professional standards by pressing for better training, pay and conditions in journalism, as well as advising its members in the event of disputes with employers.

Chinese and English language newspapers are represented by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, which has 25 members and four associated members. It is empowered to act in matters affecting the interests of local newspapers, to society or its members.

There is also a Hong Kong office of the Press Foundation of Asia, which has the objective of helping to develop and expand the press in Asia. The PFA is an association of Asian publishers and editors representing some 300 publications. It co-ordinates the functions of seven national press institutes - from New Delhi to Korea.

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It is generally recognised that the standard of training for journalists in Hong Kong should be improved. Following recommendations by the Journalism Training Board - an independent body set-up by the Governor - a law course was started for journalists in May with the Extra-Mural Department of the University of Hong Kong. The department, at the request of the training board also started a three-year basic training course for journalists in October. And with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the board sponsored a five-week 'English Oral Communications Skills Course' for Chinese journalists.

At the end of the year, the board conducted a manpower survey - the first in a series of the mass media industry to determine the manpower and training needs of journalists.

A journalism workshop and seminars, conducted by the Thomson Foundation, was held later in the year.

Sound Broadcasting

There are 10 radio channels in Hong Kong. Five are operated by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), three by Commercial Radio (CR) and two by the British Forces Broad- casting Service (BFBS).

Policy guidelines for RTHK, which were drawn up in 1980, require the publicly-financed station to provide a balanced output of information, education and entertainment; a service of impartial news and public affairs programming; and to expand production which encourage audience participation. It aims to reflect fully the views of the government and the people of Hong Kong, providing a two-way channel of communication between them. The Director of Broadcasting is its Editor-in-Chief.

RTHK now broadcasts 24 hours a day on both its Chinese and English programme services - a total of 700 hours per week. An independent survey conducted in July 1981 showed that the total number of radio listeners was 75 per cent of the population aged nine and above, as compared with 60 per cent at the end of 1980.

RTHK is in process of restructuring its five radio channels to emphasise the individual identity of each channel.