COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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The division keeps daily contact with the Economic and Trade Offices, providing them with up-to-date information on Hong Kong. The division is connected to the overseas offices and the Beijing office through a video conferencing system. It arranges for senior government officials to give briefings on major policy initiatives to the heads of these offices and their interlocutors such as think tank members, analysts, academics and professionals.
The English Editorial Production team was established in June to centralise and expand the department's role in drafting speeches for senior government officials, in particular the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary. Team members also accompany, from time to time, senior officials on overseas visits as speech writers and to prepare press releases, transcripts and provide media liaison for travelling local and overseas journalists.
The team provides English writing and editing services for various quarters within the Government, including overseas offices, for opinion articles, features, letters to the editor, press releases, copy writing and TV or radio scripts. It has taken over writing and editing work in English for various promotional and informational booklets, brochures and leaflets.
Visits Division
The Visits Division sponsors and invites VIP visitors, including politicians, officials, business people and opinion formers from countries with close relations with Hong Kong. It co-ordinates their visit programmes and briefings in order to improve their understanding of Hong Kong.
The division runs 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.
The Overseas Projects Sub-division plans and implements major promotions and festivals abroad. The promotions aim to further strengthen the economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and its major trading partners, and to promote Hong Kong as a leading financial centre of the Asia-Pacific region and the pre-eminent gateway to China. Efforts are also devoted to publicising the tourism industries, arts and culture and the many facets of Hong Kong life. Besides this, the sub-division assists the Economic and Trade Offices overseas in arranging a wide variety of promotions. To further enhance Hong Kong's position as a premier international services centre, an International Conferences Team was set up in 1999 to assist government departments and bureaux in seeking to host international conferences here.
Administration Division
The Administration Division provides administrative, personnel and financial support services for the department.
Hong Kong's Image Overseas
The Government's overseas public relations efforts are directed mainly at Hong Kong's major business partners in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. They are carried out through the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices