Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 363
During the year, the Mass Communications Training Board of the Vocational Training Council continued to organise upgrading training for those working in the media, advertising and public relations sectors. An allocation of $290,000 from the council enabled the board to arrange courses, talks and seminars with professional bodies such as the Hong Kong News Executives' Association, the Society of Publishers in Asia, the Hong Kong Advertisers Association, the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association, the Hong Kong Journalists' Association and the Hong Kong Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Information Policy
The Secretary for Home Affairs has overall responsibility for policy formulation on information and related matters, while the Director of Information Services advises the Government on the presentation of its policies, and on public relations matters generally, in Hong Kong and overseas. The main aims are to ensure an open exchange of information in the community, to keep the media fully informed of the Government's plans, policies and activities, and to promote Hong Kong's image abroad.
Information Services Department
The Information Services Department (ISD) serves as the Government's public relations consultant, news agency, publisher and advertising agent. It provides the link between the Administration and the media and, through the latter, enhances public understanding of government policies, decisions and activities.
The department is organised into four divisions: Local Public Relations, Publicity and Promotions, Public Relations Outside Hong Kong, and Administration.
ISD launched a web-based news dissemination system in August, which greatly enhanced its service to the media. The Government News and Media Information System (GNMIS) integrates the distribution of press releases, photographs and video clips in one single system accessible to journalists via the Internet.
All press releases are also uploaded on to the Government Information Centre (GIC), www.gov.hk, the Government's Internet home page. In addition, major government press conferences and events, including the annual Policy Address by the Chief Executive and the Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary, are webcast live on the GIC.
By year-end, the Government's e-bulletin, www.news.gov.hk, had posted 8 888 news stories and features. It also developed and posted dozens of short videos to its Reel HK page, and more than 80 new image collections to its Photo Gallery page. Visitors to the site can sign up to receive free daily e-mails of news summaries, weekly City Life alerts and HK for Kids updates. The e-bulletin now has about 6 300 subscribers.
The e-bulletin attracted about 2.8 million visitors during 2005 and nearly 200 million hits.