ENG-1999 — Page 386

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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Information Services Department

The Information Services Department (ISD) 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 578, 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 bureaux and their departments. A few are posted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government offices overseas.

The ISD has been implementing progressively an information system to improve the quality of its services through computer links. It issues press releases to news organisations through the computerised Government News Information System. The Government Home Page on the Internet (http://www.info.gov.hk) provides links to more than 300 home pages of government agencies and related organisations. The Digital Photo System allows news organisations to search on-line and down-load government photographs around the clock.

In a further development, the department formed in 1999 a video team to prepare live broadcasts on the Internet of press conferences and briefings given by the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary and other senior officials. This will be a major step forward in the dissemination of information on the activities of the Government, both locally and internationally. The system will also provide video clips for use in television broadcasts and at the same time provide an archive of recorded events that will be accessible through the Government Home Page. The system was planned to be given a trial run in January 2000, and be fully implemented shortly thereafter.

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 processes government press releases in Chinese and English and despatches them to media organisations through a computerised broadcast system. These press releases are automatically uploaded onto the Government Home Page on the Internet within a few minutes to give the public direct access. News photographs are issued to media organisations through the on-line Digital Photo System.

The sub-division runs a 24-hour press enquiry service. During typhoons, severe rainstorms or any other emergency, extra teams of officers working in shifts operate a communications control centre to disseminate the latest information on the situation to the media and the public.

The sub-division has a comprehensive press library that holds press cuttings and copies of all government press releases. It is 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 news media. It produces daily reports summarising news