Page 74 of 115
140
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTESThe minutes of meeting held on 15 November 1994 were confirmed.
PAPERThe following paper was laid on the table:
Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of December 1994.
QUESTIONS1. MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT asked the following question (in Cantonese):-
(a) What are the work and scope of duties of the Public Information Unit (PIU) of the Department? What is its establishment? Is it manpower sufficient?
(b) Can the PIU make performance pledges in order to enhance its efficiency and quality of service?
(c) Members of the public have often criticised the Council for not making people aware of the many good deeds done for the public by the Council. Besides, they are largely ignorant of our policies and annual aims. Should not the PIU put more efforts in these areas to enhance the image of the Council?
(d) Can the PIU be put under the direct management of the Council Secretariat so as to strengthen its link with the Council?
MR. PAUL YOUNG TZE-KONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Joseph CHAN has asked a number of questions concerning the work of the Public Information Unit (PIU). I will try to answer his questions point by point. The first question concerns the work and scope of duties of the PIU, its establishment, and whether its manpower is sufficient.
The role of the PIU is to publicise the policy decisions and corporate image of the Council and the manifold activities of its executive arm, the Urban Services Department. Its major function is to disseminate information to the public through the media on all aspects of the Council's services and facilities, and to promote these services and facilities. The workload is considerable. In 1993/1994, information staff answered more than 13,500 media enquiries, representing an average of 45 per working day, issued over 1,900 press releases,
Page 74 of 115
141
handled 1,140 public enquiries and complaints, arranged 263 press conferences and meet-the-media sessions, 42 press briefings and 17 press visits, replied to 643 letters to the Editors, and participated in 10 television and radio shows, or TV series. Information is also disseminated and publicity achieved through a wide range of publications including the Council's Annual Report and City News. There are sales outlets of UC publications on either side of the harbour.
The PIU has an approved complement of 79 officers, comprising both civil service and contract staff.
Over the years, the PIU has gone through a process of gradual expansion in order to keep up with the Council's increasing activities. Requests for additional staff are examined and approved where there is a functional need and justification. It is true that manpower resources have been strained in recent years in view of the rapid expansion of Council services and activities. However, the increasing use of short-term contract staff has to a large extent enabled the PIU to cope with its heavy workload.
As regards Mr. Joseph CHAN's second question of whether there should be a performance pledge for the PIU in order to enhance its efficiency and quality of service, the Public Relations Sub-Committee, has recently considered the feasibility of centralising all the Select Committee's publicity efforts under its wing. They have, on balance, decided that individual Select Committees should continue to be given the flexibility to determine their own publicity strategies and direction. With this decentralised approach, it is difficult if not impossible to set down a performance pledge, which could not be quantified in any measurable terms for promotional publicity efforts by different Select Committees.
Mr. CHAN's third question asked whether the PIU should spend more effort(s) on promoting the work of the Council, its policies and its annual aims. As the earlier part of my reply indicated, the PIU has already made sterling efforts to promote the work and activities of the Council. On balance, there is no doubt that much has been achieved in terms of the publicity the Council has received in the media. Such success must in no small way be attributed to the enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of the staff involved.
Mr. CHAN's last question asked whether the PIU should come under the Council Secretariat so as to strengthen its links with the Council. The departmental view is that the PIU will best serve the Council's overall needs by remaining under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director (Administration) of the Urban Services Department. Perhaps the Public Relations Sub-Committee should look into ways of strengthening the PIU services to the Council.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, MR. YOUNG'S reply says that the PIU has done its best to do its job but is it due to manpower constraints or other reasons that some UC activities are not covered by the PIU
Page 74 of 115
Page 74 of 115
140
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of meeting held on 15 November 1994 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of December 1994.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT asked the following question (in Cantonese):-
(a) What are the work and scope of duties of the Public Information Unit (PIU) of the Department? What is its establishment? Is it manpower sufficient?
(b) Can the PIU make performance pledges in order to enhance its efficiency and
quality of service?
(c) Members of the public have often criticised the Council for not making people aware of the many good deeds done for the public by the Council. Besides, they are largely ignorant of our policies and annual aims. Should not the PIU put more efforts in these areas to enhance the image of the Council? (d) Can the PIU be put under the direct management of the Council Secretariat
so as to strengthen its link with the Council?
MR. PAUL YOUNG TZE-KONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Joseph CHAN has asked a number of questions concerning the work of the Public Information Unit (PIU). I will try to answer his questions point by point. The first question concerns the work and scope of duties of the PIU, its establishment, and whether its manpower is sufficient.
The role of the PIU is to publicise the policy decisions and corporate image of the Council and the manifold activities of its executive arm, the Urban Services Department. Its major function is to disseminate information to the public through the media on all aspects of the Council's services and facilities, and to promote these services and facilities. The workload is considerable. In 1993/1994, information staff answered more than 13 500 media enquiries, representing an average of 45 per working day, issued over 1 900 press releases,
Page 74 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 74 of 115
141
handled 1 140 public enquiries and complaints, arranged 263 press conferences and meet-the-media sessions, 42 press briefings and 17 press visits, replied to 643 letters to the Editors, and participated in 10 television and radio shows, or TV series. Information is also disseminated and publicity achieved through a wide range of publications including the Council's Annual Report and City News. There are sales outlets of UC publications on either side of the harbour.
The PIU has an approved complement of 79 officers, comprising both civil service and contract staff.
Over the years, the PIU has gone through a process of gradual expansion in order to keep up with the Council's increasing activities. Requests for additional staff are examined and approved where there is a functional need and justification. It is true that manpower resources have been strained in recent years in view of the rapid expansion of Council services and activities. However, the increasing use of short term contract staff has to a large extent enabled the PIU to cope with its heavy workload.
As regards Mr. Joseph CHAN's second question of whether there should be a performance pledge for the PIU in order to enhance its efficiency and quality of service, the Public Relations Sub-Committee, has recently considered the feasibility of centralising all the Select Committee's publicity efforts under its wing. They have, on balance, decided that individual Select Committees should continue to be given the flexibility to determine their own publicity strategies and direction. With this decentralised approach, it is difficult if not impossible to set down a performance pledge, which could not be quantified in any measurable terms for promotional publicity efforts by different Select Committees.
Mr. CHAN's third question asked whether the PIU should spend more effort(s) on promoting the work of the Council, its policies and its annual aims. As the earlier part of my reply indicated, the PIU has already made sterling efforts to promote the work and activities of the Council. On balance, there is no doubt that much has been achieved in terms of the publicity the Council has received in the media. Such success, must in no small way be attributed to the enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication of the staff involved.
Mr. CHAN's last question asked whether the PIU should come under the Council Secretariat so as to strengthen its links with the Council. The departmental view is that the PIU will best serve the Council's overall needs by remaining under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director (Administration) of the Urban Services Department. Perhaps the Public Relations Sub- Committee should look into ways of strengthening the PIU services to the Council.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. YOUNG'S reply says that the PIU has done its best to do its job but is it due to manpower constraints or other reasons that some UC activities are not covered by the PIU
Page 74 of 115
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.