ENG-1983 — Page 265

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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

their normal television viewing habits at home and are required to complete questionnaires reflecting their opinions on television programmes and advertisements over a two-week period once every three months.

The publicly-financed Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), which uses the transmis- sion services of the two commercial stations, produced over 10 hours of public affairs programmes each week including the highly acclaimed dramas On the Beat and Places and Faces, while Commonsense and Police Call, in their seventh and eighth years respectively, were still among the top 20 fixtures.

Policy guidelines for RTHK require its programmes to provide a communicating channel between the government and the public, which promotes civic responsibility and identity, serves minority interests, and educates and informs. This is achieved while offering entertainment which upholds high programme standards. Material produced falls basically into five areas of interest: current affairs, drama, information and servicing, variety and games shows, and programmes for children and young people.

The station now plays a leading role in producing non-commercial programmes which are of service to the community, for example current affairs programmes, children's programmes and campaign-oriented games shows. During the year, it introduced the first series of an adult education programme Look and Learn which comprised three teaching elements: Chinese poetry appreciation, English language and an introduction to computers. A half-hour current affairs magazine programme of happenings in Hong Kong started in February and is broadcast weekly from Monday to Friday at peak viewing time.

Due to the popularity of RTHK's service and the increasing demand for programmes, the organisation aims to achieve an eventual weekly output of 12 hours of public affairs television programmes. An extension to its premises in Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, is planned to provide further facilities.

In addition to its major function as a source of entertainment, television plays an important role in Hong Kong in the field of education. The government Educational Television Service (ETV), which utilises the transmission facilities of the commercial stations for eight hours each school day, is watched by 610 000 children in both primary and secondary schools. The programmes are devised and written by specialist Education Department staff, who provide schools with associated programme literature and follow-up work. The programmes are produced by RTHK and are made in colour using film animation, drama and documentary techniques.

Government Information Services

The Government Information Services (GIS) provide the link between the government and the information media and, through the latter, with the people of Hong Kong. At the beginning of 1983, GIS was restructured to provide an improved press and public relations service and to enable it to assess and report on public opinion as expressed in the information media. Later in the year, a further change was made to increase efficiency by placing under the one division the department's public relations work in Hong Kong and its public relations efforts overseas. The department now has three divisions covering news, public relations and publicity, plus a division handling administration services.

The News Division disseminates a multiplicity of goverment information through teleprinter and facsimile networks which are directly linked with leading newspapers, radio and television stations, and news agencies. The facsimile system enables GIS to transmit to the media both photographs and typed or printed messages, which is especially important for communicating in the Chinese language. Telex and international facsimile