ENG-1959 — Page 318

PRESS, PUBLISHING, BROADCASTING, FILMS AND TOURISM 267

is now issued in bulletins compiled by the Government Informa- tion Services.

The decision to enlarge the scope of the department's work accelerated the expansion of Government's general publicity pro- gramme during 1959. A new studio, with dark rooms, and a valuable quantity of cinematograph and photographic equipment was brought into use.

Although the primary concern of the Information Services Department is to publicize the affairs of the Hong Kong Govern- ment, the department does everything it can to promote knowledge of United Kingdom and Commonwealth affairs, and maximum use is made of material supplied by the Central Office of Information in London.

Press Division. The most important function of the Press Room is the compilation of a Daily Information Bulletin containing official and Government news items. This is distributed in separate Chinese and English editions to all local newspapers, foreign news agencies and correspondents, averaging now between four and five thousand items a year. United Kingdom and Commonwealth news is carried in the London Press Service prepared by the Overseas Press Service Division of the Central Office of Information, from which items are selected and edited for distribution to the local

press.

In addition to the provision of written material, the staff of the Press Section deal with individual inquiries from newspapermen. Such inquiries have greatly increased in recent years and the many and various requirements of visiting correspondents, broadcasters and television and film units have added considerably to this section's work.

Press photographs and other illustrations for press use are also handled by the Press Room. These include both United Kingdom and Commonwealth photographs supplied through the Central Office of Information and local photographs, which are now usually taken by the department's own photographers. Simplified plans, sketch maps and scale drawings, suitable for press reproduction are prepared in the Publicity Division to amplify and explain the text of various releases and are distributed as required.

The department's system of distribution of material to the press is made available to the Public Relations Officers of the Armed