ENG-2005 — Page 418

364 | Communications, the Media and Information Technology

Local Public Relations Division

The division oversees the work of Information Grade officers seconded to government bureaux and departments. Eleven of the officers serve as Press Secretaries to Principal Officials and the remainder work in the 35 bureau and department information and public relations units. They advise their bureau/department heads on public relations matters, answer media enquiries and questions from the public, prepare press releases for issue to the media, and organise press conferences and special promotional activities. Eleven teams of officers from these units serve in the bureaux of the Government Secretariat and help to formulate and implement public relations and publicity policy.

The News Sub-division operates a 24-hour press enquiry service. During typhoons, major disasters or any other emergency, ISD will activate its Combined Information Centre to disseminate the latest information on the situation and government responses to the media round the clock.

The Media Research Sub-division keeps the Government informed of public opinion as expressed in the news media. It produces daily reports summarising news and editorial comments in the Chinese and English press as well as on radio and television. It also produces special reports on subjects of interest to the Government.

Publicity and Promotions Division

The Publicity and Promotions Division helps bureaux and departments mount publicity campaigns and activities locally and outside Hong Kong by giving strategic advice on planning and technical support. It is also responsible for advertising, creative design, photography and many of the Government's publications. The larger local campaigns conducted or supported by the division during the year covered a wide range of subjects from large events such as promotion of the World Trade Organisation Hong Kong Ministerial Conference to public education on the prevention of avian influenza.

Outside Hong Kong, it assists in the organisation of major promotional activities ranging from high-level business conferences, keynote addresses, exhibitions and tourism promotions to social and cultural events in principal cities.

The division handles about 4 500 titles and produces a wide variety of government publications, including the Hong Kong Annual Report and its Internet version. A large number of free publications, such as booklets, leaflets, fact sheets, brochures, posters and government forms, are distributed by the division each year. In 2005, the division sold 440 250 government books and miscellaneous printed items through its sales outlet and online bookstore. Photographs are also sold by the division.

Public Relations Outside Hong Kong Division

The division helps develop and implement the Government's overseas public relations and communications strategy. Its Overseas Public Relations Sub-division works closely with the Government's Economic and Trade Offices (ETOS) to monitor and promote Hong Kong's image overseas. The sub-division also handles requests