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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

To strengthen these efforts a public relations firm is used to implement a public relations plan and strategy for Hong Kong, and to assist with organising speaking platforms and tours for visiting speakers from Hong Kong and senior officers of the Economic and Trade Offices in the United States.

Europe

The Brussels office is responsible, among other things, for the government's publicity efforts in 10 of the member states of the European Community. The United Kingdom and Eire are the responsibility of the London Office. The information section works closely with GIS to provide material on Hong Kong matters in response to enquiries from the European media and to organise briefings for journalists visiting Hong Kong.

It invites people of influence in member states' governments, the Commission of the EEC and the European Parliament who have shown an interest in Hong Kong to visit the territory, under sponsorship of the Hong Kong government. In addition, it arranges speaking engagements in many EEC countries for senior Hong Kong government officials and representatives of the business community, distributes feature articles and news releases to selected media contacts, and offers a more general enquiry and information service to the public.

Japan

The Tokyo office is responsible for government's publicity efforts in Japan. It liaises with Japanese ministries and arranges programmes for Japanese government officials to visit Hong Kong. It also organises speaking engagements for senior government officers in Japan.

Printing and Publishing

A reputation for good printing quality, quick and reliable delivery and competitive prices continues to boost the international status of Hong Kong's printing industry. As a leading centre for printing and publishing, the territory's growth has led to the formation of 4 344 printing establishments, employing 37 487 people, and more than 200 publishing houses, including many from overseas which have set up offices or regional headquarters here. Continued growth of the industry during the year can be attributed to the confidence of employers in the future of Hong Kong, and to the relative depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar against most other currencies which has enabled Hong Kong printers to obtain more orders from overseas. Hong Kong printers are still investing substantially in advanced machinery and equipment and are taking a more positive step in developing the United States market.

The industry constitutes nine per cent of all manufacturing establishments and five per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector. Most of the printing factories (77 per cent) are engaged in general jobbing work, and most of the remainder deal with related work, such as typesetting and bookbinding. There are also 24 newspaper printers.

Use of the latest technology, especially computerised equipment, has enabled the industry to become highly specialised. The local electronics industry contributes to the plant and equipment of the more sophisticated printing companies and also publishers, who are becoming increasingly involved in the use of data and word-processing systems for editorial production and stock control.

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