Radio Culture in Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s

Abstract

<p>Hong Kong was the second British colony to establish a government-sponsored radio broadcasting service. Before TV rose to popularity in the 1970s, radio served as the mainstream public entertainment medium. It built the collective memory and helped to shape the cultural identity of Hong Kong society during the 1950s and 1960s. This paper includes two parts. First it conducts a general survey of the radio culture in Hong Kong during the Cold War period, including different radio stations and their content and daily schedule, the comparison between the English channels and Chinese channels. The second part focuses on Sky Fiction (Tiankong xiaoshuo), a special form of dramatized fiction that was broadcasted in Chinese channels. Popular plays will then be identified and the reasons for their popularity will be outlined. Scripts by female writers will also be examined for their gender and sociological perspectives. Overall, it aims to Broaden our understanding of the soundscape in Hong Kong during the 1950s and 1960s. This includes examining the connection between the radio medium and the everyday life of the audience, the kind of cultural identity the medium established and how it was affected by Cold War politics and cultural policies.</p>