ENG-1991 — Page 354

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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

and to provide to the public a greater choice of affordable television programming that would complement the services provided by Hong Kong's terrestrial broadcasters.

Radio Television Hong Kong (Television)

During 1991, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) continued to produce 12 hours of public affairs television programmes each week. Most of its efforts were devoted to production of prime-time programmes which are transmitted on the Chinese channels of the two commercial stations, TVB and ATV, throughout the week. These programmes fall basically into six categories: current affairs, drama, information and community services, variety and games shows, children's and youth programmes, and general educational productions. According to the AGB McNair Report, up to July 1991, the average audience size of RTHK programmes during prime time was 1 460 757 and 253 826 on TVB and ATV respectively. In an independent survey commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority, viewers accorded a high qualitative rating to RTHK programmes for their informative, educational and realistic content.

In 1991, there were important elections in Hong Kong and RTHK made a series of programmes dedicated to the District Board Elections, the Regional Council and Urban Council Elections, and especially the first Direct Elections to the Legislative Council. These programmes were intended as a two-way channel for electoral candidates to introduce their election campaign platforms to the public, and also to keep the public well informed about the backgrounds of the candidates. Because of its significance, RTHK devoted a full fortnight of prime-time hours for this purpose. With the newly-installed NICAM facilities, audiences were for the first time provided with a simultaneous interpretation service throughout the entire transmission dealing with election activities. This was to accom- modate the minority English-speaking audience in the community.

Through another current affairs programme, Today in LegCo, a weekly production, the public is able to assess the performance of those serving in the Legislative Council. With the Common Sense, Headliner, City Forum and Media Watch programmes, current issues are explored and analysed through different perspectives which encourage better public understanding of social events.

For drama, the highlight of 1991 was the production of two new feature dramas. City Life depicted inter-racial relationships in the cosmopolitan city and the Elderly Series was a social drama dealing with the joys and tribulations of the aged.

Variety shows such as Summer Youth Programmes, Environmental Variety and Lion Rock Run featured as some of the major RTHK campaigns to promote social interest towards building a better Hong Kong.

In educational programmes, language learning continued to be one of the more dominant themes. The second series of Putonghua in which the language was taught through situation comedy was produced and broadcast at prime-time. A new series of English Language Programme was also made. A variety of educational programmes like Doctor and You, Money Programme and Law Programme were devised, through which the subjects were taught in an easy-to-understand manner.

General educational programmes like Civic Education, Sex Education, Environment Programme, Consumer Plan, The New Working Generation and Performing Arts were also produced to cultivate and promote civic, cultural and social awareness.