COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
Government Information Services
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The Government Information Services (GIS) serves as the government's link with the media and, through it, with the people of Hong Kong. The department has two divisions: the Press and Public Relations Division, which distributes information to the public through the media and at the same time reflects to the government public opinion expressed in the media; and the Publicity Division, which embraces the creative, publishing, promotional and overseas public relations activities of the department.
The press sub-division runs a 24-hour news service through its teleprinter and facsimile networks which are directly linked with leading newspapers, news agencies, and radio and television stations. The facsimile system enables GIS to transmit both photographs and written messages to the media. Many thousands of enquiries from the media on a wide range of subjects were handled by the sub-division in 1982.
During the passage of a typhoon, a severe tropical storm or any other emergency, the newsroom becomes a communications centre providing information to the media, mainly radio and television, to keep the public informed of latest developments. All GIS information officers are mobilised for emergency duty in the newsroom and various key positions in other departments.
The public relations sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the 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. A radio and TV edition of The Gist summarises news and public affairs programmes produced by television and radio stations.
Information and public relations units in 24 government departments and secretariat branches play a major role in maintaining the flow of information to the media and improving relations with the public. Staff in a number of departmental units were augmented during the year to strengthen links with the media and public.
The Publicity Division's role is wide-ranging and covers most aspects of information work. Photography, film-making, the staging of exhibitions, publishing and the design of books, leaflets and posters all come under the division.
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GIS produces a wide variety of publications ranging from leaflets and fact sheets to the Hong Kong Annual Report which has become the best-selling hardback book in the territory - and other full-colour books. Sales of government publications rose by 14 per cent to more than $14.5 million in 1982, compared with $12.7 million in 1981.
The division handles the government's major publicity campaigns such as Clean Hong Kong campaign, the Anti-narcotics drive, Industrial Safety, the Fight Against Crime, Road Safety, Fire Prevention, Safety In The Home and the District Administration Scheme. About 30 minor campaigns are also carried out and many promotional events are staged within district communities by means of live shows, a mobile street theatre and film shows.
The division helps visiting correspondents, television and film crews, and works closely with news agencies and overseas journalists based in Hong Kong. GIS officers arranged programmes, handled enquiries and gave briefings to 521 visiting journalists, film teams and broadcasters. Production of radio and television tapes, which have prompted growing interest among overseas broadcasters, particularly in the United States, has been expanded. To keep people overseas up-to-date on local events, the division produces a weekly news- sheet in English The Week in Hong Kong. Another GIS publication, the Hong Kong News Digest, a fortnightly Chinese paper, helps to maintain a close contact with Hong Kong Chinese living in Britain, the United States and other parts of the world.