COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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Affairs Mr Alexander Downer, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage Senator Robert Hill, as well as members of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the Australia - Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Group. Mrs Chan also addressed the National Press Club in Canberra.
In Sydney and Melbourne, Mrs Chan met, among others, the Premier of New South Wales Mr Bob Carr, the Premier of Victoria Mr Steve Bracks, think tank members, community and business leaders, as well as the media. She launched tourist promotions staged in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourist Association, the Hong Kong Film Festival and addressed a range of meetings, including business conference luncheons organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Mrs Chan told business gatherings about the full realisation and smooth running of the 'one country, two systems' arrangement, the recovery of Hong Kong's economy, as well as the initiatives being taken to reinforce Hong Kong's position as a leading international business and services centre. She also highlighted the trade and investment opportunities for Australian companies in Hong Kong, as well as in the Mainland through Hong Kong, particularly upon China's accession to the World Trade Organisation.
Mrs Chan also attended gala dinners in Sydney and Melbourne, during which specially choreographed lion and dragon dances were performed by the award winning team of the Ha Tak Kin Martial Art Society from Hong Kong.
Government Home Pages on the Internet
Among other measures for ensuring open, transparent and accountable government, the Government uses the Internet to disseminate information on its policies and plans and to communicate with the public. All bureaux and departments have their home pages in Chinese and English, and have e-mail addresses for the public to make enquiries and express opinions.
These home pages can be accessed through the Government main page Government Information Centre (GIC)— at http://www.info.gov.hk. Linking keys to the home pages of the Executive and Legislative Councils and other related organisations are provided in the GIC. The GIC also makes available, among other things, updated news-oriented and topic-based information to enable the public to keep track of local developments.
New home pages set up in 1999 included an 'Interactive Government Services Directory' and 'Doing Business in Hong Kong'. The former offers a directory of telephone numbers and web site addresses for public services, and is an access point to selected interactive services provided by the Government. The latter is a focal point for accessing the wealth of business information available on the Government's home pages.
Code on Access to Information
The authorities believe in open and accountable government. This requires reasonable access to government information. An administrative Code on Access to Information now applies to all bureaux and departments, which are committed to make information available to the public.