ENG-1995 — Page 378

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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Hong Kong's Image Overseas

A key objective of the government's information policy is to project an accurate image of Hong Kong overseas. With the growing international interest in Hong Kong, the government and leading private sector organisations have joined hands in expanding their public relations programme and promotional activities overseas.

Overseas Offices

The government's overseas public relations efforts are concentrated on Hong Kong's major business partners in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. This work is carried out through the Hong Kong Government Office in London and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOS) in Washington, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Brussels and Tokyo. Two new HKETOS were opened during the year - Sydney and Singapore - to further strengthen economic and trade links in the Asia-Pacific region. An HKETO is maintained in Geneva to deal with Hong Kong's international trade issues under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the newly established World Trade Organisation. It also liaises with the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

These offices (with the exception of Geneva) provide general news and information services, brief the media and work with GIS to produce news releases and feature articles specifically for their different audiences. The offices also monitor media coverage and parliamentary proceedings or congressional debates on issues of interest to Hong Kong.

The overseas offices also advise and assist GIS and other departments in drawing up programmes for VIP visitors, such as policy-makers, government officials, politicians and opinion leaders, to enable them to learn more about Hong Kong, its interests and interrelationships with the world community. They work closely with the 'Hong Kong family' (Hong Kong-related organisations) to encourage and sustain positive interest in Hong Kong and to generate a greater understanding of the issues affecting the territory.

In addition to these services, each overseas office produces special newsletters containing a digest of news and events in Hong Kong. These are widely distributed to contacts throughout the respective countries.

Special Events

Japan

During 1995, the government staged its biggest-ever promotion in Japan to strengthen the friendship and the already close business, economic and cultural links between Hong Kong and Japan. The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, led a high-powered government and business delegation to three major cities - Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka in late September for the 'Hong Kong-Japan Partnership' Promotion. The event was organised by the Hong Kong Government in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association with significant private sector participation from some of the territory's major corporate offices.

The week-long promotion, featuring business seminars and workshops, cultural performances, exhibitions of paintings, an architectural exhibition, film festivals, a fashion show, department store promotions, and social events, projected a dynamic