XN000022-1983-12-19 — Page 3

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1983

HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A 24-HOUR ENQUIRY SERVICE FOR THE PRESS AT GIS HEADQUARTERS AND IN THE POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS BUREAU. EETWEEN THEM AND THE 22 DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION UNITS, UP TO 50 000 QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED EACH MONTH.

THE NETWORK OF DEPARTMENTAL INFORMATION UNITS ALSO PROVIDES THE GOVERNMENT WITH A MEANS OF OBTAINING FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.

+THIS IS AN AREA WHERE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE OF HELP. WE SHALL PROBABLY NEED A COMPUTER BASED DATA LIBRARY FOR OUR OWN USE BEFORE LONG.

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→ IF WE DO GO FOR THIS -- AND WE HAVE ONLY RECENTLY STARTED A STUDY THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE MEDIA SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR OWN TERMINALS AND GET DIRECT ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY AND I HOPE THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE,+ MR BRAY SAID.

ON THE GOVERNMENT'S RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS EFFORTS. MR BRAY POINTED OUT THAT MEDIA SUMMARIES AND ASSESSMENTS ARE ONLY THE OUTWARD EVIDENCE OF WHAT IS PRODUCED.

+THE CONTENTS OF THE NEWS MEDIA ARE CAREFULLY ANALYSED EACH DAY- THE SUMMARIES PREPARED DO NOT JUST PROVIDE THE BASIS OF PAPERS INTENDED TO GIVE ASSESSMENTS OF MEDIA REACTION AND LIKELY PUBLIC OPINION. THEY DO A GREAT DEAL MORE THEY FORM THE BASIS ON WHICH POLICY-MAKING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT IS FORMED, HE SAID.

ELABORATING ON OVERSEAS PR AND PUBLICITY, MR BRAY EXPLAINED THAT GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN TWO FIELDS, LOCALLY AND THROUGH HK GOVERNMENT OFFICES OVERSEAS.

THE OVERSEAS PR DIVISION OF GIS ASSISTED SOME 600 VISITING JOURNALISTS IN 1982. A PRESS RELATIONS OFFICE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR SOME TIME IN THE LONDON OFFICE AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN SET UP RECENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN EUROPE. GIS ALSO HAS A PR CONSULTANT IN JAPAN AND AN EXECUTIVE PR CONSULTANT IN SAN FRANCISCO.

+COORDINATION WITH ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION, THE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON OVERSEAS PR IS ALSO CARRIED OUT BY A WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY MYSELF.

+ IN ADDITION THE VISITS SECTION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH BRIEFS PERSONALITIES OF INFLUENCE FROM OVERSEAS SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOOD AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ MR BRAY SAID.

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