ENG-1963 — Page 369

PUBLICATIONS, BROADCASTING AND FILMS

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developments which have taken place during the year have re- flected the growing needs of the local press for speedy and extensive information on public affairs. The press division, staffed by information officers with working experience in local journalism, is the department's largest single unit. They provide a bulletin of information on more than a dozen topics every day, ranging from major policy decisions to routine statistics. These bulletins are prepared in Chinese and English and are distributed through press boxes to more than 100 newspapers, magazines and agencies. The daily bulletin is supplemented by the division's teleprinter service which now has 23 subscribers. The many evening newspapers found the teleprinter link particularly useful. The service is not confined to official announcements but is increasingly used to alert newspapers editors to fires and other incidents.

Information officers of the press division are in constant touch with newspapers by telephone, answering press inquiries over the whole range of Government activity. The purpose of this section is to provide a channel of communication between Government departments and journalists. Particular attention has been paid to improving the supply of information on police matters through more direct access to a greater range of police news for transmis- sion to the press, through press visits to police establishments and through press conferences. A number of press conferences were held and dealt with such subjects as traffic and narcotics. On several occasions the Commissioner of Police made himself avail- able to answer general questions about the Force.

The value of press conferences where journalists can meet senior Government officers responsible for matters of public interest, has been recognized by many Government departments and the arrangement of personal interviews and the organization of general press conferences have become a regular feature of the division's work.

The press division also provides news bulletins in both Chinese and English for the Colony's broadcasting stations. The main sources of news for these bulletins are the two international wire services to which the department subscribes. Although the radio news section relies upon the press division for the supply of news about Government activities, it works as an independent unit, geared to the requirements of the stations it serves. In an effort