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Media and Communications
prepare press releases, and organise press conferences, interviews and special promotional activities.
The News Sub-division operates a 24-hour media enquiry service. During typhoons and other emergencies, the ISD's Combined Information Centre coordinates responses to media enquiries and disseminates information and public announcements.
The Government News and Media Information System gives journalists online access to press releases, photographs and video clips through a single interface. All press releases are available on the internet, while major government press conferences and events, including the Chief Executive's annual Policy Address and the Financial Secretary's Budget Speech, are webcast live.
The news.gov.hk website publishes government news and information daily in a dynamic multimedia fashion. Over 7,300 news and feature stories and some 1,600 video highlights were posted in 2016. News items and messages are also disseminated through smartphones, mobile devices and social media, including Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, Twitter and YouTube. The website attracted more than 28 million visitors and 634 million page views in 2016.
The Media Research Sub-division keeps the government informed of public opinion expressed in the news media. It produces daily reports summarising news and editorial comments in the Chinese and English press as well as special reports on subjects of interest to the government.
Publicity and Promotions Division
The division helps bureaus and departments mount publicity campaigns and promotion drives and is responsible for advertising, creative design, photography, videography and the production of a range of government publications. Major local campaigns conducted or supported by the division in 2016 included Appreciate Hong Kong; public consultation on retirement protection; the Low-income Working Family Allowance Scheme; voter registration; the 2016 Legislative Council Election; and the 2017 Chief Executive Election. The department also started preparations and work on the promotion of events and activities celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR.
The division also helps organise major promotional activities such as exhibitions, cultural performances, film festivals and media partnerships overseas and on the Mainland.
The division handles more than 3,000 titles and produces a wide variety of government publications, including this yearbook and its internet and tablet versions. Each year, the division distributes a large number of free publications, including fact sheets, brochures and posters. In 2016, the division sold photographs and, through its sales outlet and online bookstore, over 64,000 government books and miscellaneous printed items.
Public Relations Outside Hong Kong Division
The division helps develop and implement the government's public relations and communications strategy outside Hong Kong, working closely with the government's offices overseas, on the Mainland and in Taiwan. Its Overseas Public Relations Sub-division promotes and monitors Hong Kong's image overseas and liaises closely with some 80 foreign media
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