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Government Information Services
THE MEDIA
The Government Information Services (GIS) serves as the government's link with the mass communications media and, through them, with the people of Hong Kong. During the year, in a re-organisation designed to improve the department's dual functions of providing information to the public and reflecting public opinion to the government, the News Division and the Public Relations Division were merged to form the Press and Public Relations Division. As a result, the department now comprises two main divisions; the other being Publicity.
The Press Sub-division runs a round-the-clock news service through its teleprinter and facsimile networks which are directly linked with leading newspapers, news agencies, and radio and television stations. In 1980, the sub-division handled many thousands of enquiries from the media on a wide range of subjects - the total number again showing an increase over the previous year.
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The Public Relations Sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the local media. It produces a daily news sheet in English, The Gist (which summarises news and editorials in the major Chinese newspapers), and Opinion, a weekly review of Chinese editorial comment.
The division's newsroom becomes a communications centre during the passage of a typhoon or severe tropical storm, or other emergencies. It provides information to the media, mainly radio and television, to keep the public informed of latest developments. Staff of the department is mobilised for emergency duty in the newsroom and at various key positions in other departments.
A network of information units has been established in 20 government departments and branches to improve the flow of information to the media and to improve relations with the public. During the year, a new information unit was set up in the Judiciary to increase public understanding of the workings of the courts and the administration of justice in Hong Kong. Staff in a number of departmental units was also increased to strengthen their links with the media and the public.
A wide variety of publications is produced by the department, ranging from daily news- sheets and a wide choice of leaflets and fact sheets to the Hong Kong Annual Report, which has become the best-selling hardback book in the territory. Sales of government publications rose by 20 per cent to more than $9.6 million in 1980, compared with $8 million in 1979.
To keep people overseas up to date on local events, a weekly news-sheet in English The Week in Hong Kong, is published. Another GIS publication, the Hong Kong News Digest, a fortnightly Chinese paper, helps to maintain close contact with Hong Kong Chinese living in Britain, the United States and other parts of the world.
Through its Publicity Division, the department handles many publicity campaigns on such community service projects as anti-narcotics activities, fire prevention, road safety, the fight against crime and the drive to keep Hong Kong clean.
The Overseas Public Relations Sub-division helps visiting correspondents, and television and film crews and works closely with news agencies and overseas journalists based in Hong Kong. International interest continued to be taken in the high level of illegal im- migration from China and in Vietnamese boat refugees stranded in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement abroad, and the workload on the section remained substantial. During the year, GIS officers arranged programmes, handled enquiries and gave briefings to 840 visiting journalists, film teams and broadcasters.
The Information Section of the Hong Kong Government Office in London works closely with GIS to assist the British media with information about events and developments in