ENG-1988 — Page 324

272

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

Sound Broadcasting There are 10 radio channels in Hong Kong - five operated by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), three by the Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company (Commercial Radio) and two by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). The most recent independent survey showed that the total number of radio listeners was 76 per cent of the population aged nine and above.

RTHK, which is a publicly-financed station, is charged with providing balanced and objective broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the people of Hong Kong. Its news and public affairs programmes aim to reflect accurately the views of both the government and the public. The Director of Broadcasting is RTHK's editor-in-chief.

RTHK now broadcasts 700 hours a week. Its main Chinese and English services, Radio 1 and Radio 3 respectively, operate 24 hours a day. The station has developed an individual identity for each of its channels.

Radio 1 provides news bulletins and summaries on a half-hourly basis between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and hourly throughout the night. In addition to traffic reports between 7.30 a.m and 7 p.m., Radio 1 also broadcasts regular financial reports during normal trading hours with round-up reports at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on trading days. In addition, the channel's phone-in programmes served to reflect the public's sentiments on various current issues.

Radio 2 has acquired popularity as a channel mainly for young people. Although popular music is the salient feature, financial news is also broadcast to cater for its more mature listeners and its early morning and late evening magazine programmes have been strengthened to attract a more diverse audience. The channel has helped promote major publicity campaigns and also organised a number of large scale fund-raising activities. Radio 2 also organised its 11th 'Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs' presentation to encourage local music talents.

Radio 3, the station's news and information channel for the English-speaking popula- tion, continued to cover both local and overseas events, including specially arranged outside broadcasts. A morning programme of news, information and guest interviews entitled 'Hong Kong Today', has been introduced. ‘Open Line', the channel's phone-in programme on Saturday mornings continued to be a valued link between the people of Hong Kong and the government. The weekly financial programme 'Money This Week' was also well-received. Radio 3 also relayed the weekly meetings of the Legislative Council.

Radio 4, the bilingual channel for fine music and the arts, covers major music and arts events throughout the year. Through co-operation with other cultural organisations, the Academy for the Performing Arts and the Urban and the Regional Councils, the channel broadcast concerts and recitals at various venues throughout the territory. 'Artist in Residence' concerts were also held in the RTHK studios, featuring local and overseas artists and ensembles.

Radio 5 relays the BBC's World Service from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. daily. Outside these hours, it broadcasts programmes in Chinese, such as Cantonese opera, provincial music, and other programmes in Putonghua. Programmes for the elderly and those on Chinese classics and the arts were further strengthened during the year.

Commercial Radio celebrated its 29th Anniversary with gains in both audience quality and quantity. Survey figures in 1988 show not only the largest radio audience gains in recent times, but also a healthy increase in listeners for all three channels of Commercial Radio (two Cantonese and one English language). This results from re-programming on