ENG-2001 — Page 436

COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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contacts with some 120 locally based foreign media organisations and assists visiting journalists seeking information or interviews with government officials, and business and community leaders. It also co-ordinates the production of written and audio- visual material for distribution world-wide.

The division maintains daily contact with the Economic and Trade Offices, providing them with up-to-date information on Hong Kong. The division is connected to the offices and the HKSAR Government Office in Beijing through a video conferencing system. It arranges for senior government officials to give briefings on major policy initiatives and issues of current interest to the heads of these offices and their interlocutors such as think tank members, analysts, academics and professionals.

The English Editorial Production team was established in 1999 to centralise and expand the department's role in drafting speeches for senior government officials, in particular the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary. From time to time, team members accompany senior officials on overseas visits as speech writers and to prepare press releases and transcripts, and provide media liaison for travelling local and overseas journalists.

The team provides English writing and editing services for a number of offices within the Government, including overseas offices, for opinion articles, features, letters to the editor, press releases, copy writing and TV or radio scripts. It has taken over writing and editing work in English for various promotional booklets, brochures and leaflets.

Visits Division

The Visits Division sponsors and invites VIP visitors, including politicians, officials, business people and opinion-formers from countries with close relations with Hong Kong. It co-ordinates their visit programmes and briefings in order to improve their understanding of the SAR. The division also runs a programme under which arrangements are made for senior government officials and prominent local personalities to address targeted audiences overseas. These programmes are complemented by participation in international seminars, cultural activities and other events. The division also co-ordinates high-level missions overseas.

The International Promotions Subdivision plans and implements major promotions and festivals abroad. The promotions aim to further strengthen the economic ties between Hong Kong and its major trading partners, and to promote Hong Kong as Asia's world city and the pre-eminent gateway to China. Efforts are also devoted to publicising the tourism industries, arts and culture and the many facets of Hong Kong life. Besides this, the subdivision assists the Economic and Trade Offices in arranging a wide variety of promotions.

To further enhance Hong Kong's position as a premier international services centre, a special team was set up in 1999 to assist government departments and bureaux in seeking to host international conferences here.

Administration Division

The Administration Division provides administrative, personnel, financial and system support services (including general, technical and computer-related systems) for the department.