DESPITE dwindling numbers at Hong Kong's Garrison, the British Forces Broadcasting Service intends to continue providing programming up until the change of sovereignty.
The military broadcaster, which boasts a sizeable civilian audience, has no plans to alter its programming despite the Garrison having nearly its lowest numbers in 150 years.
The station caters for the 3,000 military personnel in the territory and records programmes for Gurkha regiments around the world.
'If asked by the military, we will certainly remain until the sovereignty change,' spokesman Rory Higgins said. 'The staffing will remain as it is until such time when our presence is no longer required.' The contemporary music station, popular also for its news and sports coverage, still reaches thousands of civilian listeners despite government transmission restrictions.
Sources at other broadcasters say they are optimistic the military pullout will increase their own ratings as listeners switch to other stations.
Network director of the broadcaster's Nepali service, Kishore Gurung, said: 'The fall in military numbers in Hong Kong will definitely not mean a fall in the quality of programming. We will stick to our present format right up until the end.' Even after the Gurkha pullout in late 1996, he said, the station would still be needed in Hong Kong when the Black Watch Regiment returned to hand over to the People's Liberation Army.