COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
Under the reorganisation, the Information Co-ordinator in the Chief Secretary's Office took responsibility for the government's public relations strategy, with the Information Services Department as the executive agency for policy implementation.
The main aims are to ensure an open exchange of information in the community and to keep the media fully informed of the government's plans and policies, so that members of the public are kept aware of the government activities which affect their lives.
The Information Co-ordinator advises the government on the presentation of its policies, and on public relations matters generally, both within Hong Kong and overseas.
Information Services Department
The Information Services Department, also known as Government Information Services (GIS), provides the link between the administration and the media and, through the latter, enhances public understanding of Government policies, decisions and activities.
The department is organised into five divisions the News and Media Research, Publicity, Overseas Public Relations, Visits and Administration divisions. It has a staff of about 550. Of these, 359 are Information Grade officers, with 229 deployed in government departments, policy branches in the Government Secretariat and Hong Kong Government offices overseas.
News and Media Research Division
The News and Media Research Division maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It is responsible for disseminating government information through a teleprinter network to over 80 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other individual organisations. It also has a facsimile transmission system serving 29 outlets, which is particularly important for communicating in the Chinese language.
The division produces a Daily Information Bulletin in both English and Chinese, which contains about 20 of the more important press releases on an average day.
It runs a Press Enquiry Service which operates round the clock. It has a comprehensive press library, holding press cuttings and copies of all government press releases, and a smaller reference library for use by journalists, researchers and students.
The division keeps the government informed of public opinion as expressed in the media by producing a media summary every morning, and special reports on matters of topical and special interest.
Publicity Division
The Publicity Division is responsible for government publications, promotional campaigns, advertisements, creative and design work and government photography.
Its Publishing Sub-division handles more than 8 000 separate titles. It produces a wide variety of government publications, including the Hong Kong Annual Report. Every year, it distributes some six million copies of publications such as books, fact sheets, brochures, pamphlets, posters and government forms. Associated with this output, the sub-division sells some four million copies of books and miscellaneous printed materials annually.
The sub-division arranges and places all government advertising in the media, both locally and overseas. These come to around 4 500 notices, with over 14 000 placements annually.
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