Information Services Department
政府新聞處
Agency overview
Formed1 April 1959
Headquarters2/F, 6/F-8/F, 25/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Employees422 (March 2008)
Annual budget370.0m HKD (2008–09)
Agency executive
  • Mr Fletch Chan, Director of Information Services
Websiteisd.gov.hk
Information Services Department
Traditional Chinese政府新聞處
Simplified Chinese政府新闻处

The Information Services Department (ISD) is the Hong Kong Government's public relations office, publisher, advertiser, and news agency, serving as the link between the government and the media. It was also commonly called Government Information Services (GIS).

History

In September 1945, following the end of the Japanese occupation, the British Forces appointed a Press Relations Officer to communicate with remaining war correspondents. The unit was retitled as the Public Relations Office (PRO) when the civilian administration resumed governance of Hong Kong in 1946. The PRO was renamed as the Information Services Department (ISD) on 1 April 1959.[1]

On 8 June 1963, ISD's headquarters moved from the fifth and sixth floors of the West Wing of the Central Government Offices to the top two floors of the new Beaconsfield House on Queen's Road Central.[2][3]

In the 1970s, ISD launched new social development campaigns that are now ingrained in the collective memory of Hong Kong people. These included the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, which was promoted using the iconic Lap Sap Chung litterbug character designed by ISD officer Arthur Hacker.[4]

Following the 1995 sale of Beaconsfield House to a private developer, the Information Services Department relocated to the nearby Murray Building in 1996.[5] Today, it is headquartered at the Harbour Building in Sheung Wan. It also once had offices in the Former French Mission Building.[6]

In July 2022, the department rejected an Access to Information request after some media outlets were banned from covering events regarding 25th anniversary events on 1 July 2022.[7] In response, the Ombudsman confirmed that there would be a full investigation into the matter.[8] In January 2023, the Ombudsman agreed with the ISD, and said that revealing the method to screen journalists could aid "terrorists."[9]

In September 2022, Fletch Chan, head of the department, was part of a team that organized of a media event with John Lee.[10] When Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) asked the ISD about why they could not attend, the ISD told HKFP to contact the event organizer.[10]

In April 2023, the ISD banned several government-registered media companies from covering the 2023 National Security Education Day, which was officiated by Xia Baolong.[11] In May 2023, the Ombudsman agreed to investigate HKFP's complaint against the ISD for banning media outlets from the event.[12] In May 2023, the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) issued a press release on the issue, stating "Media outlets being barred from covering public events raises concerns over the future of press freedom in Hong Kong, which is guaranteed under Article 27 of the Basic Law."[13] In July 2023, the Ombudsman said it had to "refrain from making comments on the matter" as the Committee for Safeguarding National Security had banned the media.[14]

Organisation

The department is organised into four divisions:

  • Local Public Relations
  • Publicity and Promotions
  • Public Relations Outside Hong Kong
  • Administration

Directors

  • Mr John Lawrence Murray (1959–1963)[15]
  • Mr Nigel John Vale Watt (1963–1972)[15]
  • Mr David Robert Ford (1972–1976)[15]
  • Mr Richard Lai Ming (1976–1978)[15]
  • Mr John Desmond Slimming (1978–1979)[15]
  • Mr Bernard Renouf Johnston (acting, 1979)[15]
  • Mr Robert Strong Sun Yuan-chuang (1980–1983)[15]
  • Mr Peter Tsao Kwang-yung (1983–1984)[15]
  • Miss Cheung Man-yee (1985–1986)[15]
  • Mr John Chan Cho-chak (1986–1987)[15]
  • Mrs Irene Yau Lee Che-yun (1987–1997)[15]
  • Mr Thomas Chan Chun-yuen (1997–2002)[15][16]
  • Miss Yvonne Choi Ying-pik (2002–2006)[17]
  • Mr Edward Yau (2006–2007)[18]
  • Mrs Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee (2007–2009)[19]
  • Mr Michael Wong Wai-lun (2009–2014)[20]
  • Mr Patrick T K Nip (2014–2016)[21]
  • Mr Joe Wong Chi-cho (2016–2018)[22]
  • Miss Cathy Chu Man-ling (2018–2019)[23]
  • Mr Rex Chang Wai-yuen (2019– Dec 2021)[24]
  • Ms Ng Yee Mei, Grace (acting, December 2021 – July 2022)

References

  1. ↑ Moss 1999, Chapter 2.
  2. ↑ Moss 1999, Chapter 7.
  3. ↑ "G.I.S. To Change Address". South China Morning Post. 11 April 1963. p. 7.
  4. ↑ Healy Fenton, Anna (12 October 2013). "Historian and artist Arthur Hacker left legacy of creativity". South China Morning Post.
  5. ↑ "Information flow blocked by bad joss". South China Morning Post. 5 May 1996.
  6. ↑ Finance Committee – Public Works Subcommittee (Papers) 8 Nov 95: "Conversion of the French Mission Building into the Court of Final Appeal"
  7. ↑ Grundy, Tom (7 July 2022). "Disclosing media invite list for July 1 leadership inauguration 'would harm Hong Kong's security,' gov't claims". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Lee, Peter (9 August 2022). "Hong Kong gov't watchdog to investigate news dept's refusal to reveal list of media invited to cover July 1 celebrations". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Grundy, Tom (22 January 2023). "Gov't watchdog agrees that revealing John Lee inauguration media list would aid 'terrorists,' rejects HKFP complaint". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. 1 2 Chau, Candice (22 September 2022). "John Lee tells 'patriotic' journalists to deliver the 'right Hong Kong message' at media event for China's National Day". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Grundy, Tom. "Hong Kong again bars several registered media outlets from gov't event, repeatedly evades questions as to why - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Grundy, Tom. "Gov't watchdog to probe HKFP's complaint over handling of media bans at press event - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Grundy, Tom. "Hong Kong foreign press club raises concerns over unexplained media bans at gov't events - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP". hongkongfp.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Grundy, Tom (18 July 2023). "Hong Kong gov't watchdog rejects complaint over handling of unexplained media ban at press event". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Moss 1999, Chapter 25.
  16. ↑ "Senior appointments announced". Civil Service Bureau. Hong Kong Government. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Senior appointments". Civil Service Bureau. Hong Kong Government. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Hong Kong e-News – 7 February 2006". Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels. Hong Kong Government. 7 February 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Senior appointments (with photos)". Press releases. Hong Kong Government. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Senior appointment (with photo)". Press releases. Hong Kong Government. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  21. ↑ Nip, Patrick T K. "Welcome Message from the Director". Information Services Department. Hong Kong Government. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 28 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 6 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 15 August 2019.
Bibliography
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