Rediffusion [1949-1973]

Thanks!

It is interesting though, that residents in resettlement blocks would install Rediffusion (radio or television). Quite a number of books stressed that it is much more expensive than RHK or Commercial, considering how the advent of transistor radios cut the cost of radio listening sharply. 

The Hong Kong company was formed by 1948 the latest, as there was a Rediffusion advertisement on Page 2, South China Morning Post, 1948-12-15. Its HK$9 monthly fee was dear, considering the annual licence fee charged for Radio Hong Kong was roughly the same. 

The Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, officially opened the service at 7.15 p.m., 22 March, 1949. A report (Page 5, The Hong Kong Telegraph, 1949-03-22) gave readers a preview before the opening. It also noted that experimental programmes have been relayed 'for over a week'.

SIDELINE: One particular paragraph caught my attention (Chinese names are added by me):

'The first artist to broadcast from the studios after the inauguration will be six-year-old Wu Shuk-ying (伍淑英), daughter of Mr Wu Shun-tak (伍舜德), manager of the Queen's Theatre. She will give a short piano recital.' 

Mr Wu went on setting up Maxim's, one of the food giants in Hong Kong, with his brother. 

The following day saw a report on the opening speeches: Page 2, The Hong Kong Telegraph, 1949-03-23. The Telegraph mentioned the cocktail party following the ceremony entertained more than 500 guests. South China Morning Post on the same day (p.7) gave more details about names [By the way, does anyone have any idea who those people are?]: 

'His Excellency, who was accompanied by Capt A. P. F. Wilson, ADC, was met by the Hon M. M. Watson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Broadcast Relay Service (Hongkong) Limited, Dr the Hon S. N. Chau (周錫年) and Mr Frank Harris (Managing Director). 

[...]

'Among those present were Major-General F. R. G. Matthews, Air Commodore [General Officer Commanding the Troops] and Mrs A. D. Davies, His Honour Sir Leslie [Chief Justice] and Lady Gibson, His Honour Mr Justice E. H. Williams, the Hon. J. B. Griffin [Attorney General] and Mrs Griffin, the Hon C. G. S. Follows [Financial Secretary], the Hon D. F. Landale, the Hon T. N. Chau (周埈年), Mr G. D. Hopper [U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong], Mr and Mrs J. H. B. Lee [Full name: John Henry Burkill Lee, then Acting Postmaster General, click here for reference], Col L. T. Ride, Mr and Mrs K. Noble, Mr D. S. Hill [no idea who he was, but seems to be related to butterflies: see here], Mr Fung Ping-fan (馮秉芬), Mr and Mrs D. L. Strellett [I presume that was David Louis Strellett?], Mr and Mrs Percy Chen (陳丕士), Mr J. C. McDouall [Social Welfare Officer], Mr Tang Shiu-kin (鄧肇堅), Mr and Mrs D. Keith Hardy, Mr W. Aneurin Jones [Registrar General, click here for info], the Rev. J. E. Sandbach [of the Methodist Church] and many others. 

[...]

'Both speeches were translated into Chinese by Dr the Hon S. N. Chau, a Director of the firm. 

'Guests were then entertained with a programme of music provided by six-year-old Miss Wu Shuk-ying (pianoforte), Victor Orloff (violin), Joan Turville (soprano) and Raymond Lui and his Hawaiian Band and a relay of the Paramount Dance Orchestra with vocal accompaniment by Miss Yvanovich. 

'Mr M. F. Comer is the Chief Engineer with Mr S. Cowell as Network Engineer and Mr C. Winglee as Equipment Engineer. There is a total staff of over one hundred.' 

I have been researching about Rediffusion's history, but people were mostly talking about RTV.

What about the sound service? Even though its Cantonese radio drama serials were hugely popular, the Cantonese Silver Network has a limited amount of info available, let alone the Gold (other Chinese languages) and Blue (English) Networks. It would be great if anyone who has listened to Radio Rediffusion can share a few words.

Thank you for the link!

But as far as I know, RTV was actually a separate entity controlled by Rediffusion HK. Selling RTV off did not change the fact that Rediffusion HK was still a subsidiary of Rediffusion in the UK.

Two Rediffusion brochures have listed their services after they left the broadcasting field, I will post the info here some time later.