ENG-1986 — Page 290

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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arrange press conferences and site visits and answer many media enquiries concerning the activities and aims of their respective departments. Through these efforts they play a major role in maintaining the flow of information and helping to improve relations with the public.

The overseas public relations sub-division (OPRS) assists in the government's publicity efforts overseas and produces and distributes promotional material including feature articles and newsclips for radio and television. Assistance is provided for visiting journalists requiring information and interviews with government officers, and close liaison is maintained with news agencies and overseas journalists based in Hong Kong. In 1986, the unit assisted 308 overseas journalists and 63 other visitors, and distributed 23 features, and produced 17 video items for television.

The Publicity Division embraces the creative, publishing and promotional resources of the department. Its ambit includes photography and film-making, an extensive photo- graphic library, the staging of exhibitions, the design of books, leaflets and posters and the design and placement of all government advertising. GIS produces a wide variety of publications ranging from leaflets and fact sheets to the Hong Kong Annual Report and other full-colour books. Sales of government publications rose by 5.2 per cent to more than $22.3 million in 1986, compared with $21.2 million in 1985. The main emphasis of publishing activity continued to lie with information materials for free distribution. During the year some 900 items totalling 8 380 000 copies were given out to the public. These included leaflets advising on procedures for obtaining a wide range of government services, together with fact sheets covering 55 topics, which are updated annually with the latest statistics.

The Publicity Division also plans and carries out all government publicity campaigns. The Anti-narcotics, Crime Prevention, Anti-Smoking, Industrial Safety, Road Safety and Fire Prevention programmes continued to be accorded status as major campaigns, along with Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Keep Hong Kong Clean and the issue of New Identity Cards. Two new campaigns were launched in 1986, designed to promote awareness of dangers in the home - especially to the very young - and to promote a greater sense of civic awareness and responsibility. Thirty-six other topics were treated in publicity programmes, including Road Traffic Legislation, Country Parks, and the Summer Youth Activities Programme. In support of these, numerous promotional events were organised through mobile exhibitions, live shows, television and radio programmes as well as competitions. The division also contributed to the organisation of, and publicity for, Hong Kong's participation in Expo '86 and the Royal visit in October.

The News and Public Relations Division of the Hong Kong Government Office in London works closely with GIS to provide a press service on Hong Kong matters for the British media and for Hong Kong journalists based in the United Kingdom, and enquiry and information services for the public about events and developments in Hong Kong.

The News Section monitors British Parliamentary proceedings and media coverage of Hong Kong affairs, and keeps the Hong Kong Government informed on a daily basis by telex and facsimile transmission. It also publishes a fortnightly newsletter, 'Dateline Hong Kong', which is distributed among organisations and individuals with a close interest in Hong Kong.

The Public Relations Section was heavily involved in the organisation of two major projects during the year. The first, the 'Two Cities' Project, was held in October to coincide with the formal opening by the Governor of the new unified Stock Exchange of Hong