TNAG-0070-FCO40-106-Disturbances-in-Hong-Kong-propaganda-1968 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

Notes on the Structure and Organisation

of Information Services

Part I

This consideration of the future structure of information services in the Hong Kong Government arises immediately from the need to determine the future of the Special Publicity Unit.

2.

The S.P.U. was set up in June to meet the obvious need for counter-propaganda and to develop positive propaganda on a "hearts and minds" basis. The S.P.U. was set up for an initial period of six months as an off-shoot of the Information Services Department on to which in turn, were grafted personnel from the Secretariat for Chinese affairs, Radio Hong Kong and the Police Force. From the beginning the Unit's operations have been guided by a committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Colonial Secretary and latterly the Deputy Colonial Secretary (Special Duties).

3.

Soon after the formation of the Unit the Committee accepted the view that there would be a need for an organisation similar to the Unit continuing far beyond the original, and purely notional, six months which expire in December 1967, and that a decision on this must be taken soon if only to ensure proper recruitment or the replacement in their parent departments of seconded staff.

4.

The Deputy Director of Information Services was asked to suggest the future role and organisation of the S.P.U. but his report was delayed until now as a result of his commitments as Acting Director during August and September.

5.

The very fact that a special unit had to be set up demonstrates one shortcoming of the original Information Services Department which was of course symptomatic of a generally passive attitude to information work throughout the Government. This fact alone suggests that it is not worth examining the role of the S.P.U. without examining the total pattern of information work as it is now seen to be required.

6.

During these four months, quite apart from the specialised and novel functions of the S.P.U., the pressure put upon the con- ventional services of the I.S.D. have high-lighted many of its inadequacies.

7.

Without further apology, then, the opportunity has been taken to examine the whole pattern of information work and to make suggestions for a radical change.

8.

On the one hand the Hong Kong Government Information

/Services