THE MEDIA
153
The public relations division is more locally-oriented being primarily concerned with maintaining and improving the relationship between the government and the people of Hong Kong. It has a special responsibility to keep government departments informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. There are some 20 Chinese daily newspapers concerned with general news and these are examined each day for topics of public interest. A weekly review is prepared in English and circulated to 200 senior officers of the government. The script of a weekly television programme is prepared to bring important topics in the Chinese newspapers to the notice of those who do not read Chinese.
In recent years, the Information Services Department has set up many depart- mental units with the aim of promoting better liaison between the government and the
press, and to improve relations between departments and the public. The units are manned by information officers seconded from the Information Services Depart- ment and are supported by the department's full resources.
The information section of the Hong Kong Government Office in London works in close collaboration with the Government Information Services. Press relations form an important part of its work and news releases for the British press are prepared from information bulletins sent daily from Hong Kong. In the wider context of public relations, it deals with all general enquiries about Hong Kong, operates a lecture service, organises seminars for newly-recruited expatriate civil servants, and distributes government literature.
Following a group of management consultants' recommendations to strengthen the machinery of the government the Secretariat for Information was absorbed by a new Secretariat for Home Affairs as part of the Colonial Secretariat. Mr Jack Cater was appointed Secretary for Home Affairs on June 3, 1973 and subsequently handed over to Mr Denis Bray in mid-November, 1973.
1
L |