COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
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industries, arts and culture and the many facets of Hong Kong life. The sub-division also assists the government's overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOS) to arrange a wide variety of promotions programmes.
Visits Division
The Visits Division sponsors and invites VIP visitors, including politicians, parliamentarians, officials and business people from countries with close relations with Hong Kong. It co-ordinates their visit programmes and briefings to improve their understanding of Hong Kong.
The division has a 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.
Administration Division
The Administration Division provides administrative, personnel and financial support services for the department.
Hong Kong Image Overseas
A main objective of the government's information policy is to project an accurate image of Hong Kong overseas. With the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China on July 1, Hong Kong was the focus of international interest in 1997.
Overseas Offices
The government's overseas public relations efforts are concentrated on Hong Kong's major business partners in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. This work is carried out through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) in London, Brussels, Washington, DC, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Tokyo, Sydney and Singapore.
The Geneva HKETO deals with international trade issues under the World Trade Organisation. It also liaises with the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development.
The HKETO in London opened in July to replace the Hong Kong Government Office and the new office of the HKETO in Washington, DC, was formally opened by Chief Executive during his visit to the United States in September. The Geneva office moved into its own office building at the end of 1997 and its official opening is planned for 1998.
These offices (apart from Geneva) provide general news and information services, present promotional events, brief the media and work with the ISD to produce news releases specifically for their different audiences. The offices also monitor media coverage and parliamentary proceedings or congressional debates on issues of interest to Hong Kong. The overseas offices also advise and assist the ISD and other departments in drawing up programmes for VIP visitors, such as policy-makers, government officials, politicians, opinion leaders and journalists, to help them learn more about Hong Kong, its interests and relationships with the world community. They work closely with the 'Hong Kong family' (Hong Kong-related organisations)