HONG KONG: BRITISH FORCES RADIO BROADCASTS FINAL PROGRAMME

Описание: (29 Jun 1997) English/Nat

Another British institution has closed down in Hong Kong just two days before the colony is handed back to Chinese sovereignty.

British Forces Radio has broadcast its last regular programme, from a container inside the Prince of Wales barracks.

The container will be lifted onto a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship, before starting its journey back to Britain later on Sunday.

BFBS will provide live coverage of the Farewell ceremony on June 30 from a mobile base instead.

The airwaves are about to fall silent on another British institution in Hong Kong - British Forces Radio.

The station has been on air in the colony since the Gurkhas moved to Hong Kong from Singapore in 1971.

The English language service began in 1979 to teach the Nepalese soldiers English - but the station has also become popular with local Chinese and expatriates alike.

But as the British garrison has slowly withdrawn - so has forces radio.

Like any other military operation immense planning has gone into how BFBS will cover the final farewell ceremony.

Station manager Rory Higgins has several options as to what record will be the last to be heard in Hong Kong.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They are all going into the pot at the moment and I will make a decision probably on the 30th, we'll play that, say our goodbyes, we'll pull the plug out the transmitter and disappear across the horizon."
SUPER CAPTION: Rory Higgins, station manager

BFBS fan Owen Hughes is one listener who believes Hong Kong won't be the same once the station goes off the air.

He's used BFBS as a vital link to news back home during his seven years in the colony.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm absolutely gutted. I just don't know what I'm going to listen to in the morning, B-B-C World Service, maybe local radio, but there's going to be nothing to replace BFBS.
SUPER CAPTION: Owen Hughes, BFBS fan

Since mid-May BFBS has been broadcasting from here - a 20 square metre metal container.

Nicknamed the "love shack" by the D-Js that have used it, the container has seen action in the Gulf and more recently in Bosnia.

The radio container will be "retired" from active service after the Hong Kong handover.

The container will be loaded on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, the Sir Percival, on Sunday afternoon for its last journey.

And BFBS, in Hong Kong at least, will be off air for good.

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