COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
News Division
The work of GIS is carried out by several divisions. The News Division disseminates a great variety of government information, including policy statements and official announcements, through its teleprinter and facsimile networks which are directly linked to leading newspapers, news agencies and radio and television stations. The division is also responsible for the speedy exchange of information with overseas offices.
Information issued to the media in the form of press releases is compiled in a Daily Information Bulletin which is published in both English and Chinese. The News Division also operates a 24-hour press enquiries service, handling an average of 20 000 questions each month. In addition, the division is responsible for organising and conducting press conferences and meet-the-media sessions by policy secretaries and heads of government departments. Another media services team is responsible for planning and providing press facilities for public functions attended by top government officials and VIP visitors from
overseas.
During emergencies such as typhoons, a co-ordination centre is set up in the newsroom to disseminate up-to-date information to the media to keep the public informed of latest developments. Apart from those officers mobilised to man the centre, others are deployed to various government departments dealing with the emergency situation, to help contribute to the minute-by-minute flow of information.
Public Relations Division
The Public Relations Division has two sub-divisions: media research and overseas public relations. The media research sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces the Media Summary, a daily publication summarising news and editorial comment in the English and Chinese press as well as on radio and television. In addition, it produces special reports and translations of selected articles in Chinese-language media on various subjects of interest to the government.
The overseas public relations sub-division assists the government's publicity efforts overseas and produces and distributes promotional material worldwide. This includes feature articles, booklets, pamphlets and television newsclips. Assistance is provided for visiting journalists requiring information and wishing to arrange interviews with govern- ment officers. Close liaison is maintained with the news agencies and a large corps of foreign correspondents and overseas media organisations based in Hong Kong.
Departmental Units Division
The Division was upgraded from a Sub-division in 1990 on a trial basis to provide guidance, advice and direction to co-ordinate the work of departmental units in the formulation and development of public relations strategies. The division also anticipates, monitors and co-ordinates issues with public relations implications spread over depart- ments and branches to ensure consistency of purpose.
There are altogether 28 information and public relations units in government depart- ments and branches, excluding four attached to overseas offices. They work closely with GIS headquarters units in dealing with information, public relations and publicity aspects of the work of departments or branches concerned. Through these activities, the units
287
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.