COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
centre's opening on June 15 to its closing on July 9. A total of 116 media organisations from around the world (47 TV stations, 15 radio stations and 54 newspapers and news agencies) booked 225 exclusive working booths in the PBC. Representatives of many other news organisations used the free seating work stations. Nearly 8 500 media personnel were accredited to cover the Handover and related events with 6 500 of them actually collecting their accreditation badges. ISD manned a central enquiries desk on an around the clock basis throughout the PBC's operating period and handled some 9 000 enquiries. At the height of its operations up to 200 information officers and 100 executive officers and representatives of other grades provided support services for the various facilities at the PBC.
The live core feed of the Handover and related events was distributed through RTHK's master control room in the PBC to the various broadcasters in the centre and uplinked to satellite (Intelsat and AsiaSat 2) for global reception.
ISD and the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings
The ISD was also heavily involved in the media arrangements for the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund which were held in Hong Kong for the first time from September 23-25, 1997. An ISD team was attached to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority Planning Division to help implement the arrangements. Widespread media interest from local and overseas organisations was heightened by the fact that the meetings were being held just three months after the Handover.
In all, 1 963 media representatives were accredited for the Annual Meetings, the highest number ever registered for the event. Representation was almost equally split between Hong Kong media and those from overseas. Arrangements for the journalists included a purpose-built press room with free seating work spaces for 500 journalists and facilities for television and radio broadcasters to take live coverage of the meetings and selected keynote speeches. RTHK provided the live 'host' TV feed of the opening ceremonies and plenary sessions. During the busiest phase, up to 60 information officers were involved in the project.
Internet
Among other measures for ensuring open, transparent and accountable government, the administration uses the Internet to disseminate information on its policies and plans and to communicate with the public. The government Home Page (Government Information Centre - http://www.info.gov.hk) provides a comprehensive range of information on Hong Kong. All bureaux and departments have their own home pages on the Internet.
Code on Access to Information
The authorities believe in open and accountable government. This requires reasonable access to government information. The government introduced an administrative code on access to government information, starting with a pilot scheme in March 1995. The code was then extended progressively to the whole of government, achieving that target in December 1996.
The code sets out the types of government information to which the public has access. It also lists categories of exemptions to ensure appropriate confidentiality of
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