The Government Spokesperson and Director of the Government Information Bureau (GCS), Mr Chan Chi Ping, said that the Office of the Government Spokesperson and GCS would continue developing their supporting role as a bridge to promote cooperation and communication between government departments and the media. They would also provide all necessary support for facilitating media interviews and news reporting in 2019 –a year which marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), and was also the occasion of the Chief Executive Election to select the next leader of the Macao SAR.
A media reception was held on the afternoon of Tuesday (19 March) on behalf of the Office of the Government Spokesperson and GCS. Assistant Government Spokesperson, Mr U Man Fong; as well as GCS Director Mr Chan, and press office officials working on behalf of the respective Government Secretaries’ offices, were among the attendees. Invited guests included persons-in-charge and representatives of Macao media organisations and associations; people based in Macao as representatives of national media outlets; and correspondents based in Macao working for overseas media.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Chan said that the Government Spokesperson system had been operating for more than nine years. The system had gradually received more and more support from various government departments and the media industry, and had been effective in deepening communication and interactions between the Government and the media, with the aim of ensuring more timely information could be provided to the public. He also thanked the media for their full support for the Office of the Government Spokesperson and for GCS over the years.
Mr Chan reviewed the 2018 work of the Office of the Government Spokesperson and GCS with reference to three areas, including improving the Government Spokesperson mechanism and enhancing coordination between Government departments. In 2018, the Office of the Government Spokesperson had continued to play its supportive role in coordinating dissemination of news regarding all government departments. It had also coordinated joint press conferences on major events or incidents, such as Super Typhoon Mangkhut, in order to release in timely manner official news and messages on issues of public concern.
The two bodies – the Office of the Government Spokesperson and GCS – had also actively optimised the government’s information services system and enhanced their public relations roles. GCS had coordinated information dissemination with all government departments. GCS had done this by providing professional training and technical support – especially with regard to new-media applications – in order to enhance transparency concerning and supply of information on maters of public administration, as well as to support effectively news reporting by the media.
In order to align with changes in society regarding the ways the public receives information; adapt to media development trends; and facilitate release of government information to the public, GCS had optimised software systems and facilities during the past year. Such steps had included establishment of the GCS Facebook page, its WeChat official account, its YouTube official channel and via other forms of electronic publication. GCS had also increased its human resources investment in multimedia services by forming its own special team to provide more comprehensive and professional services.
In 2018, GCS had launched a new version of its official website and the “MSAR News” mobile phone application, and replaced the old information broadcast system (IBS) with a new information dissemination system, known as “GovInfo Hub”. Mr Chan urged the media to provide further comments and suggestions, to enable the department to improve further the new systems in order more quickly and easily to convey Government information to the media.
Looking to the future, Mr Chan said that the Government Spokesperson mechanism would continue developing its functions, and would coordinate and facilitate prompt and proactive responses from Government departments directed to the media and the public, and effectively implement transparent governance. Meanwhile, the Government would continue exploring improvements in coordination of information, of strengthening the rapid response mechanism, and expand on-the-job training, to enhance the quality of spokespeople working on behalf of the Government. GCS would continue paying close attention to the development of new media, and strengthen its own multimedia applications, in order to expand its channels for disseminating information.
Several major events will be held in 2019, including celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR. It will also be the occasion of the Chief Executive Election to select the next leader of the Macao SAR. GCS would strive to make the best possible arrangements for media reporting, and is well prepared for facilitating faster and more convenient dissemination of information, said Mr Chan.