ENG-1986 — Page 281

17

Communications and The Media

潘巾舖

事霸孔

業健

THE process of consultation, which is central to government decision-making in Hong Kong, depends upon the ready availability of information on the government's policies and activities and the free expression of public views and opinions through all available channels. The news media plays a valuable role in this respect.

A number of major issues arose in 1986 which generated lively - and sometimes intense public debate in Hong Kong. These were given extensive coverage, together with a great deal of editorial and other comment, in the local media.

Foremost among these were the concerns expressed, in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, with regard to China's proposal to build a nuclear power plant at Daya Bay, about 50 kilometres from the centre of Hong Kong. Also given prominence were far-reaching proposals concerning the management and organisation of Hong Kong's medical services, the further development of various aspects of the education system, the future of broadcasting and the strengthening of efforts to combat the criminal activities of triad societies.

The regular meetings of the two diplomatic bodies set up in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, namely the Joint Liaison Group and the Land Commission, were widely reported upon, as were the discussions in the Basic Law Drafting and Consultative Committees which are assisting the Chinese Government in drafting the Basic Law for the post-1997 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Externally, too, communications and public information play a vital role in fostering Hong Kong's continuing growth as a world trading, manufacturing and financial centre. Sophisticated telecommunications equipment based on the latest technology link Hong Kong with most parts of the world, ensuring an efficient and continuous interflow of up-to-the-minute information. As well as serving Hong Kong's own commercial interests, these facilities have attracted news media representatives from many parts of the world. News agencies, newspapers with international readerships and overseas television compan- ies and corporations, about 90 in all, 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, the extensive news media is made up of many daily newspapers, a range of periodic magazines, two private television companies, one govern- ment radio-television station, one commercial radio station and one radio service for the British Forces. There is a free, critical and outspoken press which, together with the electronic news media, provides an efficient and speedy supply of information to a literate, industrious and healthily inquisitive society. It also 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.