ENG-1997 — Page 398

COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA

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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 560, of whom some 350 are Information Grade officers. The majority of these officers operate outside ISD Headquarters to provide information, publicity and public relations services to policy branches and their departments. A few are posted to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government offices overseas.

In 1994, the ISD 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 news organisations via computers. The information systems strategy has been fully implemented and extended to all departmental operations following the computerisation of the ISD press library in August 1996.

In June 1997, the ISD introduced a new Digital Photo System. This allows news organisations to search on-line and down-load government photographs in digital format around the clock. During the operation of the Press and Broadcast Centre for the Handover Ceremony, digital photographs produced by the system were also placed in a special Handover Web Site for downloading by the press world wide.

In December 1995, the ISD launched a Government Home Page (http://www.info.gov.hk) on the Internet through which essential information on Hong Kong can be accessed. It now provides a linkage to more than 60 home pages of government agencies and related organisations. The government encourages use of the Internet for the dissemination of government information. In 1997, the ISD established an Internet Resource Centre to help branches and departments set up home pages and to consider how the government could improve the dissemination of information through better use of the Internet.

News and Media Research Division

The News Sub-division maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It disseminates government information to over 100 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other organisations.

The sub-division compiles a daily information bulletin in English and Chinese, which contains about 20 of the more important press releases on an average day. The bulletin is uploaded onto the government Home Page on the Internet daily to give the public direct access to government press releases.

The sub-division runs a 24-hour press enquiry service. It has a comprehensive press library, holding press cuttings and copies of all government press releases available for use by journalists, researchers and students.

The Media Research Sub-division keeps the government fully informed of public opinion as expressed in the information media. It produces daily reports 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.