Radio Dada says Hong Kong stations have 'no guts.'

Radio Dada, a non-commercial Hong Kong radio station broadcast over the Internet, is based out of the last place that you'd expect: an ice cream shop in a shopping mall.

And yet it is apt for a station named after the surrealist movement and which advocates democratization of programming in Hong Kong.

Around July 2008, Radio Dada started in the box-like studio located at the gelato parlor Slowly by Da Dolce in the basement of Langham Place. Every afternoon, the station dishes up richly varied programs in Cantonese, with irreverent discussions about arts, culture and indie music, as well as niche topics such as war games and UFOs.

But why the non-profit, Internet-based approach?  

"Radio Dada is an experiment on how to build a radio station in Hong Kong," says Radio Dada music director MC Yan.

"People are surprised that we do it without any money. But it's not about money. It's about freedom."

Despite Hong Kong's reputation as a bastion of free expression, the city’s airwaves are sadly lacking in variety.

There are currently only three radio broadcasting companies: Metro Radio and Commercial Radio are for profit, while RTHK is government operated.

Getting a broadcasting license is notoriously difficult as the ongoing saga of Citizens' Radio illustrates.

MC Yan and Radio Dada's founders, like-minded creative types Tommy Li and Andy Tam, are avoiding the red tape by broadcasting through the Internet. They also see it as a way to maintain their independence and adhere to their vision.

"If you want to do something with quality, it'd better be independent," says MC Yan. "Hong Kong is full of self-censorship. People here have no guts and no balls. We're here to fix that."

The station, which relies on the volunteer efforts of 20 hosts and a skeleton staff, hopes to bolster creative thinking and promote the sharing of public space. Radio Dada founder and advertising industry guru Tommy Li says: "We want to give more opportunities for the young and talented to sound out.”

So far, with limited press, at least 500,000-600,000 people tune in according to local paper am730. One of the station's standout shows is Underground Battlefield (Sunday, 4-5:30pm), a weekly review of indie music that has featured live performances by local bands El Destroyo and A Roller Control.

If you want to listen to Radio Dada while licking your gelato limone, just head over to Slowly by Da Dolce, or click on www.radiodada.hk.