ENG-1995 — Page 376

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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Information Services Department

The Information Services Department, also known as Government Information Services (GIS), serves as the government's public relations consultant, publisher, advertising agent and news agency. It provides the link between the administration and the media and, through the latter, enhances public understanding of government policies, decisions and activities.

The department is organised into six divisions News and Media Research, Public Relations, Publicity, Overseas Public Relations, Visits, and Administration. It has a staff of about 570. Of these, some 375 are Information Grade officers, with about 240 deployed in government departments, policy branches in the Government Secretariat and Hong Kong Government offices overseas.

In 1994, GIS began to implement an information systems strategy to improve the quality of its services through the quicker dissemination of information and more efficient communication links. The first stage involved the use of the Government News Information System to, among other things, issue press releases to local subscribers via computers. The information systems strategy is expected to be extended to all departmental operations by the end of 1996.

In December 1995, GIS launched a Hong Kong Government Home Page on the Internet through which essential information on Hong Kong can be accessed by a wide international audience.

News and Media Research Division

The News Division maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It disseminates government information to over 60 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other organisations.

The division produces a daily information bulletin in English and Chinese, which contains about 20 of the more important press releases on an average day.

It runs a press enquiry service which operates round the clock. It has a com- prehensive press library, holding press cuttings and copies of all government press releases, and a smaller reference library for use by journalists and researchers.

The division also supervises the work of the Media Research Sub-division, which keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces a daily publication summarising news and editorial comments in the English and Chinese press as well as on radio and television. It also produces special reports on subjects of interest to the government.

Public Relations Division

The division oversees the work of information units in various government departments and branches. It anticipates, monitors and advises these units in the formulation and development of public relations strategies. It co-ordinates their public relations and publicity efforts on complex issues that may span several departments or branches, to ensure consistency of purpose. It has responsibility for the overall management of information grade officers in the units and ensures effective deployment and utilisation of staff resources.

There are 37 information units in government departments and branches, excluding those attached to the overseas offices. They work closely with GIS headquarters in