COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
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Visits Division
The Visits Division sponsors and invites VIP visitors, including influential politicians, parliamentarians, officials and business people from countries with close relations with Hong Kong, to visit the territory. It plans, organises and co-ordinates their visit programmes and briefings with the aim of improving their understanding of Hong Kong.
The division also runs a 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. The division also co-ordinates high-level missions overseas.
Departmental Units and Media Research Division
The division oversees the work of information units in various government departments. It anticipates, monitors and gives guidance and advice to these units in the formulation and development of public relations strategies. It co-ordinates their public relations and publicity efforts on complex issues that may span several departments, to ensure consistency of purpose. It also assumes responsibility for the overall management of information grade officers in the units and ensures effective deployment and utilisation of staff resources.
There are altogether 37 information units in government departments and branches, excluding those attached to the overseas offices. They work closely with GIS head- quarters in dealing with information, public relations and publicity aspects of the work of departments or branches concerned. These units play a major role in maintaining the flow of information and helping to improve relations with the public.
The division also supervises the work of the Media Research Sub-division. The sub- division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces the media summary - a daily publication summarising news and editorial comments in the English and Chinese press as well as on radio and television. In addition, it produces special reports on subjects of interest to the government.
Administration Division
The Administration Division provides administrative, personnel and financial support services for the department.
Hong Kong's Image Overseas
One of the main objectives of the government's information policy is to project an accurate image of Hong Kong to overseas communities.
As international interest in the issues confronting Hong Kong has increased, so the government, in co-operation with leading organisations in the private sector, has expanded the programme of joint promotional activities mounted overseas.
Overseas Offices
The Hong Kong Government's overseas public relations efforts are concentrated on its major business partners in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Its overseas offices in these regions play a leading role in promoting Hong Kong. This work is carried out through the Hong Kong Government Office in London and the Hong Kong Economic