14
Press, Broadcasting and Cinema
THE news and entertainment media in Hong Kong once again demonstrated that they can easily adapt to meet the increasing demands of a more complex and better educated society. The Colony now supports 275 periodicals and publications, thus allowing for a broad range of political expression, intellectual content, and editorial style.
Providing a comprehensive outlet for government news is the Information Services Department which continued to supply press releases, radio bulletins, films and photographs informing the people of the Government's actions, views, and intentions. The department maintains a 24-hour service and provides news coverage of all major public events. This is in addition to the media's usual sources of news, both local and international.
Among the major events of the year which found staff of the department heavily committed were the change of governorship, the visit of Princess Anne and typhoon Rose.
PRESS
The Chinese and English language press in Hong Kong currently produce 275 publications, including 63 Chinese and four English daily newspapers. It is estimated that between them the newspapers have an overall circulation of some one-and-a-half-million copies a day. This clearly illustrates that the people of Hong Kong are among the most news-conscious of any in the world today.
Chinese and English language newspapers are represented in the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong which has 19 members and three associate members. The society, formed in 1954, is empowered to act in matters affecting the interests of all the Colony's newspapers, the society or its members.
Hong Kong is the base of South-East Asian operations for many international magazines, newspapers, radio and television networks. International news agencies represented include the Associated Press of America, Agence France Presse, Kyodo, Reuters and United Press International.