COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
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The Creative Sub-Division is responsible for all government design and display services and film and photographic work.
The Administration Division provides administrative, personnel and financial support services for the department.
Overseas Public Relations Wing
The Overseas Public Relations Wing was set up during the year by combining the Overseas Public Relations Sub-Division of the department and the Visits Division of the Information Co-Ordinator's Office. The new wing devises government's overseas public relations strategy, co-ordinates all international publicity efforts, monitors Hong Kong's image overseas and handles VIP visits.
Overseas Public Relations Division
The Overseas Public Relations Division co-ordinates the government's publicity efforts overseas and produces and distributes promotional materials worldwide. This includes feature articles, books, pamphlets and television newsclips. The division also runs a sponsored visitors programme under which influential journalists are invited to visit Hong Kong to gain a better understanding of the territory. It provides assistance for other visiting journalists requiring information and interviews with government officials and community leaders, and maintains close liaison with news agencies and foreign correspondents based in Hong Kong.
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The division also keeps in very close touch with the information and public relations units of the government's overseas offices, providing them with the necessary information to present an accurate and up-to-date picture of Hong Kong.
Visits Division
The Visits Division sponsors and invites VIP visitors including influential politicians, parliamentarians, government officials and businessmen from countries with close relations with Hong Kong to visit the territory. It plans, organises and co-ordinates their visit programmes and briefings aimed at improving their understanding of Hong Kong.
Like the sponsored visitors programmes, the Visits Section runs the sponsored speakers programme under which arrangements are made for senior government officials and prominent local personalities to address targeted audiences overseas. These programmes are complemented by participation in international seminars, cultural activities, and other
events.
Overseas Projects Section
The section mounts, very often in conjunction with the private sector, promotional activities for projecting Hong Kong's image overseas. It also co-ordinates high-level missions to other territories and countries.
In these tasks, it maintains close contact with the Government's Overseas Offices, consuls-general and commissioners of foreign countries in Hong Kong, various non- government agencies involved in the promotion of Hong Kong such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Tourist Association, chambers of commerce and major Hong Kong companies.