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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

Kong, the government invited interested parties to submit preliminary proposals between July 25 and September 30. Eight submissions were received in response to this invitation. The submissions were examined by the government with a view to drawing up terms and conditions and preparing tender documents for the award of the necessary licence. To assist in the formulation of cable television policies, a study visit was made by staff of the Administrative Services and Information Branch, Economic Services Branch and Post Office in late October and early November to the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Canada. Discussions were held with relevant government officials and selected cable operators in those countries. A tender exercise is expected to be held in 1987.

Government Information Services

The Government Information Services (GIS) provides the link between the administration and the information media and, through them, the people of Hong Kong.

The work of the GIS is carried out by several divisions. The News Division distributes a great variety of government information through its teleprinter and facsimile networks, which are directly linked with leading newspapers, radio and television stations, and news agencies. The facsimile system, which is especially important for communicating in the Chinese language, is designed to transmit to the media both photographs and typed or printed messages. Telex and international facsimile services enable government offices overseas to receive messages without delay and to communicate directly to the department and, through it, to the rest of the government. The News Division operates a 24-hour media enquiry service, handling an average of 20.000 questions every month.

The division is also responsible for organising and conducting press conferences, including the year-round meet-the-media sessions by heads of government departments. In addition, a media service team is charged with the responsibility of planning and providing press facilities for public functions performed by top government officials and visits by VIPs from overseas. The importance of this service was highlighted by the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip in October, during which extensive arrangements were made for some 200 local and overseas journalists to cover the major event.

In an emergency such as a typhoon, the newsroom becomes a co-ordination centre. It disseminates information to the media, particularly the radio and television stations, to keep the public informed of developments. Apart from this mobilisation of both manpower and equipment in the newsroom, other staff man various key positions within the government's organisation for managing emergencies, contributing to the minute-by- minute flow of information.

The Public Relations Division has three sub-divisions: media research, departmental units and overseas. The media research sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces the Gist, a daily news sheet in English which summarises news and editorial comment in the major Chinese language papers, as well as opinions voiced on radio and television. Other publications include Opinion, a weekly review of Chinese editorial comment, What the Magazines Say and special reports on media coverage of subjects of particular interest to the government. The sub-division is also responsible for producing the Hong Kong News Digest, a fortnightly newspaper in Chinese which helps Hong Kong Chinese overseas to maintain contact with Hong Kong, and The Week in Hong Kong, a newsletter mainly on trade and economic matters distributed to overseas subscribers.

The departmental units sub-division co-ordinates the operation of the 26 information and public relations units in government departments. These units issue press releases,