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The Media, Communications and Information Technology

overseas, on the Mainland and in Taiwan. Its Overseas Public Relations Sub-division promotes and monitors Hong Kong's image overseas and liaises closely with some 80 foreign media organisations based in Hong Kong, handling press enquiries, disseminating news and arranging briefings and interviews. It also runs a programme for visiting journalists and produces summaries of overseas reports on Hong Kong. In addition, it co-ordinates and implements overseas publicity projects to tie in with senior officials'visits abroad.

The Brand Hong Kong Management Unit handles the Brand Hong Kong programme, promoting Hong Kong as Asia's world city locally and around the world. To ensure the brand's consistent application, the unit develops advertising campaigns and publicity material in print and electronic formats to support the government's Economic and Trade Offices' activities, senior officials' visits and major promotional programmes outside Hong Kong. The unit also seeks opportunities to highlight the brand and collaborates with organisers of major events of international significance in Hong Kong to bolster the city's image. Hong Kong's strengths and advantages are also promoted through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The Visits and International Conferences Sub-division runs the ISD's Sponsored Visitors Programme for opinion formers, political leaders and think-tank members to visit Hong Kong to enhance their understanding of the city. The sub-division also helps draw up programmes for influential visitors on trips to Hong Kong. In addition, it co-ordinates an overseas speakers programme which arranges for senior government officials and prominent members of the community to address targeted audiences abroad, enabling them to better understand Hong Kong's strengths and latest developments.

Promoting Hong Kong Worldwide

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's offices overseas and on the Mainland, as well as the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taiwan, play an important role in promoting Hong Kong globally. They do this through regular meetings with counterparts and contacts in the territories they cover, through visits by senior Hong Kong officials and by staging or taking part in cultural events or promotional activities such as film festivals, exhibitions and performances by Hong Kong artistes.

Europe

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Brussels organised the visits of the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, to Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Rome and Venice to strengthen bilateral and European Union ties. Other visiting officials were the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, to Antalya and Bucharest; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, to Paris, Burgundy, Antwerp and Brussels; the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, to Barcelona; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam- sing, to Paris, Alès and Milan; and the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, to Brussels.

To promote tourism and celebrate Hong Kong's friendship with Belgium, the ETO hosted a gala dinner in Brussels, pairing dishes prepared by the Chinese Culinary Institute with Belgian beers. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development officiated at the event with Belgium's

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