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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Lam Tai-fai and a reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (November 11):
Question:
The Chief Secretary for Administration said last month that the Government would actively develop multimedia platforms and better utilise social media to extend its reach, so as to enhance its communication with members of the public. After assuming office for more than three years, the Chief Executive (CE) launched his Facebook page (FB page) for the first time in October this year and shared his experience in planting honey peaches and dragon fruits. On the other hand, according to the findings of the public opinion surveys conducted by various universities, the popularity ratings of CE have been persistently low, at a level below the warning line. Such figures have also revealed that the younger and the more educated the respondents are, the stronger they are opposed to CE holding the post. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has assessed if the launch of the aforesaid FB page is conducive to enhancing communication between CE and the public, as well as raising CE's popularity and the levels of public support and trust in him; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as I have learnt that among the members of the current Election Committee for the selection of CE, Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and members of the Executive Council, Legislative Council and District Councils, as well as deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the National People's Congress, not all of them have been invited to join the list of friends of that FB page, whether the authorities have assessed if this approach will affect the effectiveness of the Government's efforts in improving the relationship between the Executive Authorities and the Legislature, uniting different sectors of society and creating a "Hong Kong Camp", etc.; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it has deployed public resources to maintain and update that FB page; if it has, whether the resources so deployed include CE's time for official business; if so, whether the authorities have assessed if the use of CE's time for official business to maintain and update that FB page has affected the quality and efficiency of policy implementation by the Government as well as CE's workload; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government all along attaches great importance to its communication with various sectors of the community and proper dissemination of information about public services and policies for the public's reference. On dissemination of information, the Government in the past usually promulgated its policies and made announcements by holding press conferences, issuing press releases, broadcasting Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio, arranging media interviews for officials at various levels, etc. As regards communication with the public, it has been the Government's practice to get hold of public opinion through Councils at different levels and various advisory bodies. Government officials would also go to districts and contact the people direct from time to time to gauge public sentiment.
In recent years, with the use of Internet and social media becoming more and more popular, additional platforms have been made available for communication between the Government and the public. The Government understands that it needs to update its means of communication with the public to tie in with the changes in their habit of reading news and getting information. Although the conventional practice, i.e. disseminating information through mass media and garnering public opinion through Councils at different levels and advisory bodies, remains useful, the Government needs to keep up with and make use of the latest trend of information exchange through electronic platforms. The Government also recognises that young people are more inclined to express their views through social media and are expecting immediate dissemination of Government information.
To adapt to the above-mentioned changes, the Government has stepped up its efforts in communication and publicity using new media. Government departments have generally set up websites, providing the public with direct on-line access to information on public services and Government policies, as well as e-mail addresses for the public to make suggestions and enquiries. Government departments and officials are also further strengthening their communication with the public and information exchange by way of mobile apps, creation of Facebook accounts and YouTube channels, publication of blogs, etc.
Noting the proliferation of social media and information exchange platforms as a result of rapid technological advancement, the Government will continue to explore and enhance its communication and exchange with the public using social media and electronic platforms. Nevertheless, we shall act prudently in using the new media for communication with the public, striving to strike a balance between disseminating Government information promptly and ensuring accuracy of the information to avoid misunderstanding by the public. We shall also explore step-by-step the most effective ways of using social media for further sharing of the work of officials and taking heed of public views. Meanwhile, for the purpose of diversification of channels for communication and exchange, we shall continue to disseminate information through mainstream media and communicate with the public direct through Councils at various levels and advisory bodies to garner public sentiment. We welcome public views in this regard.
Regarding parts (1) and (2) of the question, the Chief Executive (CE) has all along been conveying information to the community through diverse channels, including attending events, visiting districts, delivering speeches and accepting media interviews, meeting the media before the Executive Council meeting every Tuesday, publishing articles, etc. Since on-line platforms are becoming more popular, the CE has also issued blogs from time to time to express his views. Recently, the CE has also tried using Facebook, a social media platform, to share with the public his reflections on life and work. As it was mentioned above, the Government is exploring the use of the new media and is doing so through learning by doing. As far as the Facebook account of the CE is concerned, we shall keep on consolidating the experiences, exploring new platforms, and improving on various arrangements to strengthen our contact with the public. The CE will also continue to communicate with the public through a variety of means, without confining himself to any particular channel.
Regarding part (3) of the question, same as the website of the CE's Office, the CE's Facebook account is maintained and updated by the CE's Office and the related work is absorbed by existing resources.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:50
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