Satellite plan to give rural China a window on the world
A HONG KONG Chinese student who speaks almost perfect English says he learnt by watching television.
'I've never been abroad,' he said. 'I picked up the accent from watching Sesame Street.' Television can be an ideal educational tool - or a window on other cultures. For this reason a new project is under way to bring the television age to rural areas of China.
Known as 'Project Wok', the organisers aim to beam China Central Television (CCTV) by satellite into the homes of remote areas of the mainland.
Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu and Henan are poor provinces. Improving the people's living standards will come from increasing their knowledge and providing 'cultural enhancement', the organisers believe.
They say poor villages cannot afford satellite dishes - at $35,000 each. So, when under way, the Ministry of Culture in China hopes the project will bring 'education to all'.
The project is being run by a non-profit making organisation, the Qin Jia Yuan foundation, and the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour (RCHKH), although it was instigated by government officials at the Ministry of Culture.
RCHKH treasurer Shirley Chung Shiu-ling said there were four main programmes in the initiative.
These also include setting up libraries in remote villages, a pen pal scheme linking children in the cities with those in rural areas, and having actors perform in poorer parts of the country.
Hong Kong businesswoman and writer Dr Anita Fung-yee Leung - founder of the charity Qin Jia Yuan - was the first person to bring the project to the attention of Hong Kong.
'Anita found out about the project on a visit to China,' said Chung. 'When she returned, she told the Rotary Club about it and we decided to help.' The satellite dishes will be set to receive China Central Television (CCTV) which, although heavily censored, will give the villagers the chance to tune in to entertainment, educational and informative programmes.
'After all, censored programmes are better than no programmes at all,' said Chung.
CCTV has 3 channels, broadcasting a wide range of programmes.
'It's an ongoing project,' Chung said of Project Wok. 'Thirty satellite dishes have already been set up, but there is no limit on the money we want to raise.' she said.
'We originally planned to install forty dishes, at a cost of $1.3 million.' But it is not just the dishes which have to be paid for. People have to be trained to install the hardware and to ensure the system runs smoothly.
As part of the fund raising effort, the organisers are holding a gala premiere of the film I want to go on living, based on the novel by Dr Anita Leung.
The film stars Sylvia Chang, Anita Yuen and Chow Wah-kin.
