MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1983
HONG KONG PRESS CONSCIOUS OF FREEDOM BRAY
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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY POINTED OUT TODAY THAT MEMBERS OF THE PRESS IN HONG KONG ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR FREEDOM AND VERY SENSITIVE TO INTERFERENCE.
+ IT FOLLOWS THAT, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT MAY STRIVE HARD TO CHANNEL INFORMATION TO THE MEDIA, AND TO ARGUE ITS CASE, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE INFORMATION WILL BE PUT TO THE PUBLIC, AND IF IT IS THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE FORM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF CONSIDERS BEST OR WHICH IS FAVOURABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT.
+ IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS EDITORIAL JUDGEMENT AND EDITORIAL OPINION THAT HAS THE FINAL SAY, HE SAID.
MR BRAY WAS SPEAKING TO THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES.
+ IT IS OUR JOB TO ENSURE THAT THE MEDIA UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE SAYING. IT IS UP TO THEM TO REPORT ACCURATELY AND SAY WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY, HE SAID.
MR BRAY GAVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WHICH HAS OVERALL POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE WORK OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND MUCH OF THE WORK OF THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY.
+OUR FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES ARE TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR AND CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND TO PROJECT AN ACCURATE IMAGE OF HONG KONG BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS,+ HE EXPLAINED.
+
+WE ARE TASKED WITH INFORMING THE PUBLIC, THROUGH THE MEDIA, OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PHILOSOPHIES, POLICIES AND PLANS, AND EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR THEM. WE RESPOND TO CRITICISM AND MISLEADING COMMENTS, WE ASSESS PUBLIC OPINION AND ANTICIPATE ISSUES WHICH ARE OF PUBLIC INTERESTS. WE DO ALL THIS BECAUSE WE CARE,+ HE SAID.
MR BRAY LISTED THE DIFFERENT WAYS BY WHICH THE OBJECTIVES ARE
PURSUED:
*
PRESS RELEASES AND PERSONAL PRESS CONTACTS
* PRESS ENQUIRY SERVICES
* PRESS CONFERENCES, BRIEFINGS AND INTERVIEWS
* MEDIA RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
*
*
*
OVERSEAS PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMES, AND
SURVEYS ON PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES AND PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS.
/HE EXPLAINED