**
8
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1986
+THUS, AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, WE MUST NOT BELITTLE THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA COMMENTS NOR CAN WE IGNORE THEM,+ HE SAID.
MR SO SAID PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS HAD TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO ENLIST THE SUPPORT OF THE MEDIA.
+WE MUST BE PREPARED TO ACT AND TAKE THE NEWS TO THE MEDIA AND NOT WAIT FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES OR BE FORCED TO RESPOND TO INCORRECT OR SPECULATIVE REPORTING.
+IT DEMANDS FIRST OF ALL THAT WE BE FOREVER CONSCIOUS OF PUBLIC REACTION TO EVERYTHING WE DO.
+SECONDLY, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD AND TALK FRANKLY AND WITH CONVICTION TO THE MEDIA, IN PARTICULAR TO THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA,+ HE SAID,
AND LASTLY, MR SO SAID, +WE MUST BE READY FROM TIME TO TIME TO GIVE BACKGROUND BRIEFINGS TO THE MEDIA WHEN NEW POLICIES OR MEASURES ARE BEING INTRODUCED.+
+THIS WOULD HELP THE MEDIA TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES BETTER AND WOULD PREVENT OR MINIMISE THE CHANCES OF MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISREPRESENTATION, HE SAID.
CONTINUED WORK ON ROAD SAFETY PROMOTION ASSURED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TRY ITS UTMOST TO WORK MOST POSITIVELY AND CLOSELY WITH ALL CONCERNED IN THE PROMOTION OF ROAD SAFETY.
THIS ASSURANCE CAME FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR DAVID LAN, TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF THE CHINESE ARTISTS ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MR LAN SAID THAT THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF VARIOUS ROAD SAFETY ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUSTAINED DECLINE OF ABOUT 18 PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, FROM 18 300 IN 1982 TO 14 900 IN 1985.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE DOWNWARD TREND APPEARED TO BE LEVELLING OFF AND WE SHOULD THEREFORE NOT BE COMPLACENT OVER THE ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.