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Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 343

social facilities and a range of professional activities, including news conferences and briefings.

During the year, the Mass Communications Training Board of the Vocational Training Council continued to run training programmes to help people working in the media, advertising and public relations sectors to improve their skills. An allocation of $220,000 from the council enabled the board to arrange courses, talks and seminars with professional bodies such as the Hong Kong News Executives' Association, the Hong Kong Advertisers Association, the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists.

Information Policy

The Secretary for Home Affairs has overall responsibility for policy formation on information and related matters, while the Director of Information Services advises the Government on the presentation of its policies, and on public relations matters generally, in Hong Kong and overseas. The main aims are to ensure an open exchange of information in the community, to keep the media fully informed of the Government's plans, policies and activities, and to promote Hong Kong's image abroad.

Information Services Department

The Information Services Department (ISD) serves as the Government's public relations consultant, news agency, publisher and advertising agent. 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 comprises four divisions: Local Public Relations, Publicity and Promotions, Public Relations Outside Hong Kong, and Administration.

The Government News and Media Information System (GNMIS) channels press releases, photographs and video clips through a single system accessible to journalists on the Internet.

All press releases are also uploaded onto the Government's internet home page, www.gov.hk. In addition, major government press conferences and events, including the annual Policy Address by the Chief Executive and the Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary, are webcast live on the Internet.

The Government's electronic bulletin, news.gov.hk, serves as a communications channel to enhance ties between the Government and the media, business, industry, academia and the community, presenting news and information throughout the day, seven days a week, in a dynamic multimedia format. By year-end, news.gov.hk had posted 8 848 news and features stories. It had also developed and posted dozens of short videos to its Reel HK page, and added more than 70 new image collections to its Photo Gallery page. Visitors to the site may sign up for free daily e-mails of news summaries, weekly City Life alerts and HK for Kids updates. The e-bulletin now has about 7 500 subscribers.