COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
324
The division also supervises the work of the Media Research Sub-division, which keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces a daily publication summarising news and editorial comments in the English and Chinese press as well as on radio and television. It also produces special reports on subjects of interest to the government.
Public Relations Division
The division oversees the work of information units in various government departments and branches. It anticipates, monitors and advises 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 or branches, to ensure consistency of purpose. It has responsibility for the overall management of information grade officers in the units and ensures effective deployment and utilisation of staff resources.
Excluding those attached to the overseas offices, more than 30 information units operate in government departments and branches. They work closely with GIS headquarters in dealing with information, public relations and publicity aspects of the work of departments or branches. These units play a major role in maintaining the flow of information and helping to improve relations with the public.
Publicity Division
The Publicity Division is responsible for government publications, promotional campaigns, creative and design work and
and government photography and advertisements. It organises about 12 major government campaigns and about 40 general publicity programmes each year on such topics as environmental protection, crime prevention, safe working practices, AIDS awareness and prevention of drug abuse.
The division handles more than 9 500 separate titles and produces a wide variety of government publications, including the Hong Kong Annual Report. It distributes some six million free copies of publications such as books, fact sheets, brochures, pamphlets, posters and government forms. Associated with this output, the Division sells some 3.5 million copies of books, photographs and miscellaneous printed material annually.
Overseas Public Relations Division
The division formulates the government's overseas public relations strategy; co- ordinates all international publicity efforts, including major promotions and festivals in overseas countries with which Hong Kong has significant trading interests; monitors Hong Kong's image overseas and handles VIP visits.
Its Overseas Public Relations Sub-Division co-ordinates the government's international publicity efforts. It produces and distributes promotional material world-wide, including feature articles, books, pamphlets and television news clips. The sub-division also runs a programme under which 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 business and community leaders; and maintains close liaison with news agencies and foreign correspondents based in Hong Kong.