ENG-1968 — Page 298

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PRESS, BROADCASTING AND CINEMA

Pavilion at Expo '70, Japan. The contract was placed at the end of October for construction to start at the end of the year. In addition to the building itself and its displays, there will be a considerable programme of events taking place everyday. The detailed planning of these was virtually completed by the end of the year.

The Government participated for the second time in its official capacity at the Annual CMA Exhibition which opened on December 3, 1968. The pavilion was designed by Mr W. N. Chung and the planning and co-ordination were undertaken in the exhibition section. The government pavilion aimed to show some of the plans and future developments which will be of benefit to those living in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Government Office in London is administratively part of the Commerce and Industry Department, but its information section works in close collaboration with the Government Informa- tion Services. Press relations form an important part of the work of the London office, and releases for the British press are prepared from information bulletins sent daily from Hong Kong. Major news items, despatched by press cable, are processed immediately and passed on to newspapers and news agencies. The information section also acts as a distributing agency in Britain for photo- features prepared by the Government Information Services and these, together with press releases, play a major role in the continu- ing effort to inform the British public about Hong Kong and its achievements through the medium of newspapers and magazines.

PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE

The object of the Public Enquiry Service is to maintain a close link between the Government and the people. Its primary business is to give the man in the street quick and clear guidance to, and an explanation of, the various services and functions performed by government departments, and to help him understand government rules and procedures, particularly when they affect him personally. It also supplements broadcast information about typhoons. When local storm signal No 1 is hoisted, a 24-hour service goes into operation and any member of the public can telephone an enquiry centre at any hour to confirm the latest weather position and related topics, such as damages and casualties, suspension of public trans- port services and postponement of public functions.