RECOMMENDATION FOR MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION - HONG KONG BUREAU, FBIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89-01147R000100080046-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: August 8, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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RECOMMENDATION FOR HONOR OR MERIT AWARD IS. HR 20.37)
(Submit eight copies with: description of performance or service
warranting award; biographic profile; and unclassified citation)
STAT
September 1985-April 1986
AD/FBIS Chrono
9. RECOMMENDED AWARD
Meritorious Unit Citation -
FBIS Hong Kong Bureau
Have any other persons received or been recommended for an award for this service or act?
0 yes (If yes, attach list of full names and awards.)
M' no,
STA
STA
FBIS/Hong Kong Bureau
ie era ion
HEAD OF R CAREER SERVICE
(Career ..rv/co of nomin..)
ore a cast
Information
7 #w /'fi
8 AUG 11,186
Deputy Director for Science
and Technology
-REPORT OF HONOR AND MERIT AWARDS BOARD
The Honor and Merit Awards Board having considered the foregoing recommendation
on
[:]recommends approval
[:]does not recommend approval
o recommends award of
FDAM~6M OSSOIETE PREVIOUS
I- EDITIONS
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FBIS-1130/86
8 AUG 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Science and Technology
Acting Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Meritorious Unit Citation -
Hong Kong Bureau, FBIS
1. I recommend that Hong Kong Bureau, FBIS be awarded a
Meritorious Unit Citation for sustained superior performance during
the period September 1985-April 1986 in providing timely and accurate
reporting on developments in the Philippines.
2. During these 8 months the Philippines experienced a rising
communist insurgency, a major national election, a dramatic, peaceful
revolution, and a new government's rise to power. Hong Kong Bureau
met these challenges by quickly building up monitoring resources and
editorial expertise to provide United States Government analysts with
English-language versions of the most important articles and speeches
from Philippine broadcast sources. Bureau personnel at all levels
demonstrated commendable initiative and dedication and contended with
poor radio reception, changing broadcast patterns and a restructuring
of the Philippine media. Both U.S. and foreign national employees time
and again put forth extra effort to get the job done, worked extended
shifts, manned a round-the-clock operation as required, and made .
personal sacrifices to ensure that FBIS and consumer needs were met.
3. The Philippine crisis coverage was most dramatic, but would
not have been possible had not bureau staff developed good experience
in its handling of events building up to the peaceful coup. Thanks to
the growing expertise of the bureau's staff, they were able to respond
in a timely manner to expanding consumer demands for more information.
Prior to the election in February 1986, the bureau processed more than
30 Marcos campaign speeches in 1 month, often at a rate of two speeches
a day. Processing these speeches was difficult owing to poor radio
reception and Marcos' health problems, which affected his speech and
thought patterns. In praising the bureau's coverage at this time, the
BBC, the allied monitoring service, noted the monitors' work in
transcribing from "poorly-received and sometimes incoherent material."
The period prior to the coup also saw a significant increase in
reporting on the Philippines. While staffing remained constant,
monthly wordage filed on the Philippines more than doubled, exceeding
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SUBJECT: Recommendation for Meritorious Unit Citation -
Hong Kong Bureau
the total publishable wordage of seven other FBIS bureaus. This was
in addition to the bureau's regular coverage of the PRC, Hong Kong,
and New Zealand media.
4. Following the transfer of power in the Philippines, the
bureau sustained its superior performance in reporting from public
media there. The revamping of radio broadcasting under the new regime
challenged the bureau's limited resources, as employees assumed duties
not normally part of their routine to identify which radio stations
were still on the air, which were new, and what frequencies were in
use. At the same time, the restructuring of the press as new
newspapers appeared and old ones changed political orientation added
complexity to Philippine coverage, necessitating extra effort to fully
meet FBIS and consumer needs.
5. FBIS' ability to serve its consumers during the Philippine
crisis was made possible only by the extraordinary professionalism and
dedication of its personnel in Hong Kong. Their efforts enabled FBIS
to provide prompt, significant, and often unique reporting of great
value to U.S. Government agencies and policymakers, U.S. missions, and
allied services.
Deputy Director for Science and Technology
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 STAT
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CITATION
Hong Kong Bureau
Foreign Broadcast Information Service
is hereby awarded the
MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION
in recognition of its sustained superior performance September 1985-
April 1986 in reporting on developments in the Philippines. Despite
poor radio reception, extended operating hours, changing broadcast
patterns and a restructuring in the Philippines of source media, the
bureau was able to provide timely and accurate reporting. This perfor-
mance was made possible by the exceptional professionalism, flexibility,
and high dedication to duty of each member of the staff involved in
Philippine coverage. This significant achievement by Hong Kong Bureau
made an important contribution to the mission of the Foreign Broadcast
Information Service and to the interests of the United States.
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DDS$T/FBII ~6Aug86)
Distribution:
Orig f, 9 - Addressee
2 - DDS$T
1 - DDSF,T Registry
1 - SA/CD
tk - AD/FBIS Chrono
19 - C/P$TB for 201's
2 - C/Ops
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