Information Services Department

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.

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.

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.

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

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. In response, the Ombudsman confirmed that there would be a full investigation into the matter. In January 2023, the Ombudsman agreed with the ISD, and said that revealing the method to screen journalists could aid "terrorists."

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

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. In May 2023, the Ombudsman agreed to investigate HKFP's complaint against the ISD for banning media outlets from the event. 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." 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.

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

References

;Bibliography

References

1. (11 April 1963). "G.I.S. To Change Address". South China Morning Post.
2. (12 October 2013). "Historian and artist Arthur Hacker left legacy of creativity". South China Morning Post.
3. (5 May 1996). "Information flow blocked by bad joss". South China Morning Post.
4. Finance Committee – Public Works Subcommittee (Papers) 8 Nov 95: [http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr95-96/english/fc/pwsc/papers/pw081158.htm "Conversion of the French Mission Building into the Court of Final Appeal"]
5. Grundy, Tom. (2022-07-07). "Disclosing media invite list for July 1 leadership inauguration 'would harm Hong Kong's security,' gov't claims".
6. Lee, Peter. (2022-08-09). "Hong Kong gov't watchdog to investigate news dept's refusal to reveal list of media invited to cover July 1 celebrations".
7. Grundy, Tom. (2023-01-22). "Gov't watchdog agrees that revealing John Lee inauguration media list would aid 'terrorists,' rejects HKFP complaint".
8. Chau, Candice. (2022-09-22). "John Lee tells 'patriotic' journalists to deliver the 'right Hong Kong message' at media event for China's National Day".
9. Grundy, Tom. (21 April 2023). "Hong Kong again bars several registered media outlets from gov't event, repeatedly evades questions as to why - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP".
10. Grundy, Tom. (2 May 2023). "Gov't watchdog to probe HKFP's complaint over handling of media bans at press event - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP".
11. Grundy, Tom. "Hong Kong foreign press club raises concerns over unexplained media bans at gov't events - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP".
12. Grundy, Tom. (2023-07-18). "Hong Kong gov't watchdog rejects complaint over handling of unexplained media ban at press event".
13. (26 March 2010). "Senior appointments announced". Hong Kong Government.
14. (16 November 2010). "Senior appointments". Hong Kong Government.
15. (7 February 2006). "Hong Kong e-News – 7 February 2006". Hong Kong Government.
16. (18 June 2014). "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government.
17. (18 February 2014). "Senior appointment (with photo)". Hong Kong Government.
18. "Welcome Message from the Director". Hong Kong Government.
19. (28 June 2016). "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government.
20. (6 February 2018). "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government.
21. (15 August 2019). "Senior appointments (with photos)". Hong Kong Government.