Public Relations and Publicity

The role of the Information and Public Relations Section (IPRS) is to promote and disseminate information about the department’s services, facilities and programmes. During the year, the IPRS issued 2 059 press releases, arranged 95 press visits, and organised 77 press conferences and media briefings.

The IPRS is also responsible for planning and implementing the department's promotional campaigns, and provides public relations support for major events. In addition, the IPRS provides creative support and photographic services for publications and publicity materials such as posters, outdoor displays, exhibitions, and Announcements in the Public Interest made on television or radio.

During the year, the IPRS was responsible for publicising a number of major events held to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The publicity campaigns for these events were valuable for significantly enhancing the department's public image.

Major publications produced by the IPRS included an e-version of the department’s Annual Report, outlining our activities and achievements and a quarterly Staff Newsletter for the department’s 9 604 staff members.

The department’s website provides comprehensive information about our many services and facilities, as well as about the leisure and cultural programmes being run. Publications, application forms and tender notices are also available from the website. The site attracted 475 546 797 page views in 2012-13, ranking it third among all Hong Kong government websites. Weekly highlights of major activities were emailed direct to 197 563 subscribers in the form of an e-magazine.

An Emergency Information Centre, operated by the IPRS, keeps the public informed about the status of LCSD programmes and activities in the event of typhoons and other emergencies.