ENG-1981 — Page 251

14

The Media

美德立

描

FETBM

AS VISITORS to Hong Kong can readily observe, the processes of public information play a more important role here than in almost any other territory in the world. No other place of similar size can rival the range and intensity of media activity.

Much of this activity undoubtedly arises from Hong Kong's geographical situation. Traditionally the territory has been a trading post in the Far East and over the years has expanded into a manufacturing and banking centre. For all these roles sophisticated international communications have been developed.

The facilities available through satellite and the latest telecommunication equipment have attracted news media representatives from many parts of the world. News agencies, newspapers with international readerships and overseas television companies and corpo- rations have found it convenient to establish their bureaux and offices here. Regional publications produced in Hong Kong have prospered, reflecting the territory's enhanced position as a centre of industrial and trading expertise.

Within Hong Kong itself, there is a lively and extensive news media made up of many daily newspapers, a range of weekly magazines, two private television companies and three radio stations. There is a free, critical and outspoken press without legislative controls other than those intended to provide safeguards against libel and pornography. The news media provides an efficient and speedy supply of information to a literate, industrious and healthily inquisitive society.

The news media plays a vital part in the territory's precautionary measures against sudden climatic threats. When typhoons approach or rainstorms spell danger the news media reacts to alert, inform and advise the population.

Against this background, it is not surprising that remarkable advances and innovations have taken place in the information field in recent years. The government has matched this progress by producing and participating in an increasing number of public affairs programmes on television and radio, and by expanding its information services - notably by increasing the information staff in departments and also enlarging staff to meet the needs of visiting journalists.

The Press

Hong Kong's flourishing free press consists of 72 newspapers and 413 periodicals, catering to a high readership market. Some 300 copies of newspapers are printed for every 1000 people in Hong Kong. The world average is 102 to every 1 000 people. Six English language and 55 Chinese language newspapers are published each day. Included in the English press produced in Hong Kong is the Asian Wall Street Journal, China Daily and the Asian edition of the International Herald Tribune. Generally, the price of newspapers is around $1.