The Media, Communications and Information Technology
Hong Kong is the regional base for a number of international titles such as International New York Times, Financial Times, THE NIKKEI, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today International. Global wire services with significant operations in Hong Kong include Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg, Dow Jones and Thomson Reuters. International broadcasters with studios in Hong Kong include Channel News Asia, CNBC, CNN and Phoenix TV.
Several organisations represent people working in Hong Kong's news media. The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong represents Chinese and English newspaper proprietors. It is empowered to act in matters that affect the interests of its members.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association is the biggest industry-wide union of journalists and one of the most active. Formed in 1968, it has more than 600 members. It pays special attention to a range of press freedom and ethics concerns, as well as to professional training and the handling of labour disputes.
Other media organisations include the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists, the Hong Kong News Executives' Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association. The long- established Foreign Correspondents' Club offers its members a range of professional activities, including news conferences and briefings, as well as social facilities.
With the co-operation of trade associations and professional bodies such as the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Advertisers Association, the Hong Kong News Executives' Association and the Journalism Education Foundation, the Vocational Training Council's Mass Communications Training Board continues to run training programmes to help people working in the media, advertising and public relations sectors improve their skills.
Dissemination of Government Information
The Secretary for Home Affairs oversees the policy on dissemination of government information, 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 government plans, policies and activities, and to promote Hong Kong's image abroad.
Information Services Department
The Information Services Department (ISD) is the government's public relations consultant, news agency, publisher and advertising agent, providing a link between the government and the media and enhancing public understanding of government policies, decisions and activities. The department has four divisions: Local Public Relations, Publicity and Promotions, Public Relations Outside Hong Kong, and Administration.
Local Public Relations Division
The division oversees the work of Information Grade officers who serve as Press Secretaries to Principal Officials or work in the 35 information and public relations units in bureaus and
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