Radio Hong Kong to expand programmes, newspaper article 1950

Thanks to IDJ for sending in this 1950 newspaper article about Radio Hong Kong expanding its broadcast programmes.

The British Hong Kong Government launched its first radio broadcasting station, known as “GOW”, on 30 June 1928, with a starting staff of only six people. Several name changes occurred over the next few years, and it eventually became known as “Radio Hong Kong” (RHK) (香港廣播電台) in 1948.(1)

HF: I have retyped the original article to increase legibility.
Thanks to SCT for proof reading the retyped version.

When Radio Hong Kong moves into its new quarters in the Cable and Wireless building on Connaught Road in the spring of this year, new equipment will permit it to broadcast foreign and Chinese programmes simultaneously from 8 a.m. to midnight.

The “Sunday Herald” learned this yesterday exclusively from Mr. David Keith Hardy, Radio Hong Kong’s programme director.

Giving details of the new offices, Mr. Hardy said, Radio Hong Kong’s new broadcasting studios and offices will be situated on the sixth and seventh floors of Electra House, the new Cable and Wireless reinforced concrete building on the waterfront.

While programmes are being broadcast, alternative studios will be available for musical and play rehearsals.

A completely separate recording studio with its own central room containing the recording equipment is incorporated, Mr. Hardy said.

Although programmes can be recorded from any studio, this separate recording studio will be used not only for domestic purposes but also for overseas commentators and correspondents who wish to make use of Radio Hong Kong’s facilities.

The studio accommodation consists of a large concert hall which will seat 100 people. On each floor is a large production and music studio, linked with a continuity suite consisting of an announcer’s continuity studio and engineer’s control room, and a talks studio.

The main control room is situated on the sixth floor and has been partitioned to include the broadcasting offices, small workshops, a test room, battery-charging compartment, and a store-room. Adjoining the main control room are the recording suite and the Chinese programme offices.

Air-conditioning

On the seventh floor. as well as studios, there is a combined foreign and Chinese record library, an Artists’ waiting room, the foreign programme offices, a committee room for the broadcasting advisory committee, and the news offices.

Both floors are air-conditioned throughout, the air-conditioning plant itself being installed on the seventh floor.

With the exception of the concert hall, direct fluorescent lighting is used, although in the case of the two large production, and music studios the illumination will be indirect.

New studio equipment is being installed by Marconi Wireless Telegraph company. The design of the studios is to BBC specifications, and the interior decoration will be carried out in pastel shades of blue, green and cream.

Steel shelving, provided by the Sankey, Sheldon Company Limited, id being installed to ensure a considerable economy in space in the record library. The remainder of the furniture will be of teak and will be manufactured by the furniture section of the Government’s Stores Department.(2)

Source:

1. RTHK wikipedia
2. Hong Kong Sunday Herald 29th January 1950

See:

1. Photos of Electra house on gwulo.com

This article was first posted on 11th October 2020.

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