Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 3 and the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau launched two radio programmes, "Saptahik Sandesh" (Weekly Message) in Nepali and "Hong Kong Ki Shaam" (Hong Kong This Evening) in Urdu a year ago. Entering the second year, both programmes will be extended from half an hour to one hour, aiming at providing a wider variety of infotainment to the ethnic minorities.

"Saptahik Sandesh" and "Hong Kong Ki Shaam" are broadcast on RTHK Radio 3 every Sunday at 7:05pm and 7:30pm respectively. According to the feedbacks gathered by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, both presenters and listeners think the extension of airtime could enable a more comprehensive coverage of useful information and help the ethnic minorities to integrate into the local society. To further appeal listeners with diversified interests, both programmes' airtime is to be extended from 12 July onwards. "Saptahik Sandesh" will be broadcast every Sunday from 7pm to 8pm, while "Hong Kong Ki Shaam" will be broadcast every Sunday from 8pm to 9pm. Both programmes are broadcast on RTHK Radio 3 (AM567, AM1584/ FM106.8 HK South, FM97.9 Happy Valley & Jardine’s Lookout & Parkview Corner, FM107.8 Tseung Kwan O & Tin Shui Wai) and RTHK On Internet (www.rthk.org.hk).

"Saptahik Sandesh" is broadcast in Nepali, featuring a great variety of useful information and entertainment, including news, current affairs and community services with plenty of real Nepalese tunes, while the listeners are also treated with a collection of Nepalese popular music. Chura Thapa, an English teacher and a correspondent, hosts this programme. "Hong Kong Ki Shaam" is broadcast in the Pakistani language Urdu, featuring news, entertainment, poems in Urdu, Pakistani music and interviews with celebrities. The host of this programme, Abid Ali Baig, is a poet and a writer with over 30 years of broadcasting experience in Pakistan.

The extension of both programmes' airtime is expected to provide a wider range of infotainment. The features are expected to be intensified, such as news to be divided into local and international news, music to be expanded to classical, modern, folk and pop songs. Feature stories on Hong Kong's attractions, cultural and heritage with a view of enhancing ethnic minorities' integration into the society are also considered as the new elements to the extended programmes.