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THE MEDIA

fixtures, while the children's programme Banana Boat went into its third year. Vanguard, a mini-series produced by the ICAC, delivered messages on anti-corruption.

In addition to its major function as a source of entertainment, television also plays an important role in Hong Kong in the field of education. The government Educational Television Service (ETV), which also utilises the transmission facilities of the commercial stations for eight hours each school day, is watched by 610 000 children in both primary and secondary schools. The programmes are devised and written by specialist Education Department staff, who provide schools with associated programme literature and follow-up work. The programmes are produced by RTHK and are made in colour using film anima- tion, drama and documentary techniques.

Information Policy

Overall policy responsibility for the government's relations with the media was passed to the Secretary of Home Affairs in December. The Home Affairs Branch is, inter alia, responsible for co-ordinating the work of the Government Information Services (GIS), Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and much of the work of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. Its two main functions are advising the government on the presentation of policies and on public relations matters; and formulating policy on the full range of broadcasting and information matters. One of the main roles of the Television and Entertainments Licensing Authority (TELA) is to monitor the performance of the television stations in carrying out the terms and conditions under which they operate.

Government Information Services

The Government Information Services (GIS) serves as the government's link with the mass communications media and, through them, with the people of Hong Kong. The depart- ment has two divisions: the Press and Public Relations Division, which distributes information to the public via the media and at the same time reflects public opinion expressed in the media to the government; and the Publicity Division, which embraces the creative, publishing, promotional and overseas public relations activities of the department. The press sub-division runs a round-the-clock news service through its teleprinter and facsimile networks which are directly linked with leading newspapers, news agencies, radio and television stations. The recently installed new facsimile system enables GIS to transmit both photographs and written messages to the media. In 1981 the sub-division handled many thousands of enquiries from the media on a wide range of subjects.

The newsroom becomes a communications centre during the passage of a typhoon, a severe tropical storm or any other emergency. It provides information to the media, mainly radio and television, to keep the public informed of latest developments. All GIS information officers are mobilised for emergency duty in the newsroom and various key positions in other departments.

The public relations sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the media. It produces a daily news sheet in English, The Gist (which summarises news and editorials in the major Chinese newspapers), and Opinion, a weekly review of Chinese editorial comment. A radio and TV edition of The Gist started daily publication in October to summarise news and public affairs programmes produced by television and radio stations.

Information units have been established in 20 government departments and branches to improve the flow of information to the media and to improve relations with the public. During the year a new information unit was set up under the umbrella of the Urban

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