COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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The department is organised into six divisions News and Media Research, Public Relations, Publicity, Overseas Public Relations, Visits, and Administration. It has a staff of about 560, of whom some 350 are Information Grade officers. The majority of these officers operate outside ISD Headquarters to provide information, publicity and public relations services to policy bureaux and their departments. A few are posted to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government offices overseas. In 1994, the ISD began to implement an information systems strategy to improve the quality of its services through the quicker dissemination of information and more efficient communication links. The first stage involved the use of the Government News Information System to, among other things, issue press releases to news organisations via computers. The information systems strategy has been fully implemented and extended to all departmental operations following the computerisation of the ISD press library in August 1996.
In June 1997, the ISD introduced a new Digital Photo System. This allows news organisations to search on-line and down-load government photographs in digital format around the clock.
In December 1995, the ISD launched a Government Home Page (http://www.info.gov.hk) on the Internet, through which essential information on Hong Kong can be accessed. It provides links to more than 230 home pages of government agencies and related organisations. The government encourages use of the Internet for the dissemination of government information. In 1997, the ISD established an Internet Resource Centre to help bureaux and departments set up home pages and to consider how the government could improve the dissemination of information through better use of the Internet.
News and Media Research Division
The News Sub-division maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It disseminates government information to over 100 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other organisations.
The sub-division processes government press releases in Chinese and English and despatches them to media organisations via a computerised broadcast system. These press releases are automatically uploaded onto the government Home Page on the Internet within a few minutes to give the public direct access.
The sub-division runs a 24-hour press enquiry service. It has a comprehensive press library holding press cuttings and copies of all government press releases. It is available for use by journalists, researchers and students.
The Media Research Sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the news media. It produces daily reports 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 bureaux. It anticipates, monitors and advises these units in the formulation and development of public relations strategies and co-ordinates their efforts on complex issues to ensure consistency. It has responsibility for the overall