COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Local Public Relations Division
The division oversees the work of Information Grade officers seconded to various government departments and bureaux. It identifies controversies and monitors and advises these officers in the formulation and development of public relations strategies and coordinates their work regarding complex issues to ensure consistency. It has responsibility for the overall management of Information Grade officers in the units. and ensures effective deployment and utilisation of staff resources.
While some Information Grade officers serve as Press Secretaries to Directors of Bureaux, most are seconded to 37 information units operating in government bureaux and departments. These units work closely with ISD headquarters on information, public relations and publicity aspects concerning the work of their departments or bureaux. They play a major role in maintaining the flow of information and helping to improve relations with the public.
The News Subdivision maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It disseminates government information to about 60 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other organisations. The subdivision processes press releases in Chinese and English and dispatches them to media organisations through a computerised broadcast system. These press releases are automatically uploaded to the GIC within a few minutes to give the public direct access. News photographs are issued to media organisations through the online Digital Photo System. The subdivision operates a 24-hour press enquiry service. During typhoons, severe rainstorms or any other emergency, extra teams of officers working in shifts operate a Combined Information Centre to disseminate the latest information on the situation to the media and the public.
The Media Research Subdivision 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 Chinese and English press as well as on radio and television. It also produces special reports on subjects of interest to the Government. Publicity Division
The Publicity Division is responsible for government publications and advertising, publicity campaigns, and much of the Government's creative design and photographic work. The larger campaigns conducted and supported by the division during the year covered a wide range of subjects: from Brand Hong Kong, Fire Safety, Fight Crime, Anti-drug, Harm Reduction (an AIDS prevention campaign that urged drug addicts. not to share needles), Promotion of Services and Waste Reduction to Healthy Ageing, Road Safety and Promotion of the Basic Law.
The division handles about 6 000 separate titles and produces a wide variety of government publications, including the Hong Kong Annual Report and its CD-ROM version. Some five million copies of a range of free publications such as booklets, leaflets, fact sheets, brochures, posters and government forms are distributed by the division each year. Associated with this output, the division in 2002 sold some 833 630 copies of books and miscellaneous printed items through its sales outlet and online bookstore. The online 'Government Bookstore', developed under the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme, became operational in November 2001. Photographs are also sold by the division. Turnover from all sales amounted to $19.89 million in 2002. The Government home page on the Internet, the GIC, is produced by the Publicity Division. The site is accessible to millions of users world-wide. Continual steps are
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