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 five divisions — Local Public Relations, Publicity, Overseas Public Relations, Visits and Promotions Outside Hong Kong, and Administration. At year-end, it had a staff of 536, of whom 328 were Information Grade officers. A significant number of these information officers — 192 — operated outside ISD headquarters to provide information, publicity and public relations services to policy bureaux and their departments.

    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 and to the public through the Government Information Centre (GIC) (http://www.gov.hk), the Government's Internet home page. The GIC also provides links to more than 150 home pages of government agencies and related organisations. The Digital Photo System allows news organisations to search online and download government photographs round-the-clock.

    All major government press conferences and briefings — in particular those given by the Chief Executive, the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary — are broadcast live on the Internet, and the proceedings kept for reference in a video archive that is accessible through the GIC. Major events such as the annual Policy Address by the Chief Executive and the Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary are also broadcast live, and can be listened to in Chinese or English.

Local Public Relations Division

The division oversees the work of Information Grade officers seconded to various government departments and bureaux. It identifies controversies and monitors and advises these officers in the formulation and development of public relations strategies and coordinates their work regarding complex issues to ensure consistency. It has responsibility for the overall management of Information Grade officers in the units and ensures effective deployment and utilisation of staff resources.

    While some Information Grade officers serve as Press Secretaries to Directors of Bureaux, most are seconded to 37 information units operating in government bureaux and departments. These units work closely with ISD headquarters on information, public relations and publicity aspects concerning the work of their departments or bureaux. They play a major role in maintaining the flow of information and helping to improve relations with the public.

    The News Subdivision maintains direct contact with the media on a 24-hour basis. It disseminates government information to about 60 newspapers, news agencies, television and radio stations, and other organisations. The subdivision processes press releases in Chinese and English and dispatches them to media organisations through a computerised broadcast system. These press releases are automatically uploaded to the GIC within a few minutes to give the public direct access. News photographs are issued to media organisations through the online Digital Photo System. The subdivision operates a 24-hour press enquiry service. During typhoons, severe rainstorms or any other emergency, extra teams of officers working in shifts operate a Combined Information Centre to disseminate the latest information on the situation to the media and the public.

    The Media Research Subdivision keeps the Government fully 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 Division

The Publicity Division is responsible for government publications and advertising, publicity campaigns, and much of the Government's creative design and photographic work. The larger campaigns conducted and supported by the division during the year covered a wide range of subjects: from Brand Hong Kong, Fire Safety, Fight Crime, Anti-drug, Harm Reduction (an AIDS prevention campaign that urged drug addicts not to share needles), Promotion of Services and Waste Reduction to Healthy Ageing, Road Safety and Promotion of the Basic Law.

    The division handles about 6 000 separate titles and produces a wide variety of government publications, including the Hong Kong Annual Report and its CD-ROM version. Some five million copies of a range of free publications such as booklets, leaflets, fact sheets, brochures, posters and government forms are distributed by the division each year. Associated with this output, the division in 2002 sold some 833 630 copies of books and miscellaneous printed items through its sales outlet and online bookstore. The online 'Government Bookstore', developed under the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme, became operational in November 2001. Photographs are also sold by the division. Turnover from all sales amounted to $19.89 million in 2002.

    The Government home page on the Internet, the GIC, is produced by the Publicity Division. The site is accessible to millions of users world-wide. Continual steps are taken to improve the content and user-friendliness of the home page as an effective means of communicating with the public.

Overseas Public Relations Division

The division formulates, coordinates and implements the Government's overseas public relations and communications strategy. It works closely with the Government's Economic and Trade Offices to monitor and promote Hong Kong's image overseas, and runs a programme under which journalists are invited to visit Hong Kong to gain a better understanding of the SAR. The division maintains close contacts with some 113 locally based foreign media organisations and assists visiting journalists seeking information or interviews with government officials, and business and community leaders. It also coordinates 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, expanded to include a Chinese language writer in September 2002, provides English and Chinese 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.

Visits and Promotions Outside Hong Kong Division

The Visits and Promotions Outside Hong Kong Division promotes a favourable image of Hong Kong abroad through the efforts of three subdivisions: Incoming Visits Subdivision, International Visits and Conferences Subdivision and International Promotions Subdivision.

    The Incoming Visits Subdivision runs the department's sponsored VIP visitors programme, which targets opinion-formers and decision-makers for visits as guests of the Government, with a view to enhancing their understanding of Hong Kong. The subdivision also arranges visit programmes for other, non-sponsored VIPs coming to Hong Kong on private visits.

    The International Visits and Conferences Subdivision runs an Overseas Speakers Programme with the aim of reinforcing foreign investors' confidence in Hong Kong and promoting Hong Kong as 'Asia's world city'. Arrangements are made for senior government officials and prominent local personalities to address targeted audiences abroad. The subdivision also assists bureaux and departments in identifying suitable international conferences that could be hosted in Hong Kong.

    The International Promotions Subdivision organises major promotional activities outside Hong Kong, covering principal cities in target countries. The promotions employ a multi-faceted approach comprising high-level business conferences, keynote addresses, political calls, tourism promotions as well as social, networking and cultural events.