ENG-1988 — Page 323

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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community services, variety and game shows, children's and youth programmes, and general educational productions.

During the year, more attention was given to political events in response to the increasing pace of change in this area and series of special discussions, debates and documentaries were produced. The on-going programme Today-in-Leg Co continued to provide up-to-date insights into the work of the legislature. Other programmes also took on a more ‘newsy' approach. The fight crime programme Crime-watch proved to be very popular and received acclaim.

The English side of current affairs this year also launched two special theme pro- grammes: Dollar Sense – a magazine package on the finance/economy scene, and All about Us, an investigative series on the environment and heritage.

In drama, the production of The New Workers series, which explored the ways of life of both the blue-and white-collar members of the labour force, was praised. The Below the Lion Rock series returned in a docu-drama format.

As for variety shows, productions included the concert-format Swinging Summer, which promoted summer youth activities and various charity and campaign-oriented shows such as Climb the Lion Rock, which promoted popular music and civic responsibility. As part of the 60th anniversary of Broadcasting in Hong Kong, the territory's first large-scale performing event for the disabled, Talent Quest for the Disabled, was produced.__

As in the past, RTHK was responsible for producing programmes on important annual events such as the Budget. In mid-1988, the press conference by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Sir Geoffrey Howe, was broadcast by RTHK, which provided pool coverage for both local and international broadcasting stations and news agencies.

In educational programmes, a second Sex Education series was produced and language education also continued, including the adaptation of the BBC production Follow Me to Science to teach English related to the sciences.

The Dial-A-Tutor programme and its home-work hotline service were strengthened and a DAT Club was formed to promote better communication between the programme and the audience. Pre-School programmes and the third series of Music Time also took on a new look, and a second Community Youth Club series was produced.

RTHK's Educational Television Division and the Education Department continued to produce educational programmes for schools. The government's Educational Television Service, which utilised the transmission facilities of the commercial stations for eight hours every weekday during term time, was watched by 617 000 school children in primary and secondary schools. The programmes were devised and written by specialist Education Department staff, who provided schools with programme literature and follow-up work, and were produced by RTHK.

Cable Television

Following the recommendation of the Broadcasting Review Board, the government announced in 1986 a decision to introduce cable television to Hong Kong. On September 19, 1988 the government invited local and overseas companies to put forward proposals for the establishment of cable television in Hong Kong. The period for the submission of proposals will expire on February 28, 1989, following which the government will decide which of the companies submitting proposals should be invited to apply formally for the two licences. Meanwhile, the government is finalising the legislative and administrative framework for the cable television system.