Experienced Government Officer: Political PR Is Not a Visagiste

出自香港新聞網 - 樹仁新傳系學生實習習作

• Experienced Government Officer: Political PR Is Not a Visagiste 055113 黃盈慧 WONG, YING WAI 2007年11月8日 (四) 12:08 (UTC)

Political public relations play an essential role in building up political figures’ image, but also is a babysitter, a promotional secretary, lobbying secretary and make-up artist.

Kwan Cheng Lai-man, the communication director of the Asia Net Communications Ltd, emphasized instead of being a visagiste of political affairs, the role of public relations is frank. Kwan thought pretense would affect the process of the persuasion work. She encouraged political affairs public relations need to be sincere and admit the fault and could not conceal mistakes.

As the former Press Secretary to Chief Secretary for Administration, Kwan pointed out that to be a competent public relations, the basic requirement is good communication ability. It was more efficient to convince the public of the governors’ point of views. “Working as a PR should also have all rounded knowledge, so that you can handle the problem and solve it as soon as possible,” Kwan said.

Though some media was in confronting position of political standpoint against the government, Kwan claimed that the government stood for the same attitude toward different media and provided their needed information to maintain both sides’ relationships. She added that the emotional quotient (EQ) of the government was high to keep plenty of communications with different parties in the society.

Public relations was long working hour and not good pay, Kwan noted the participating students need to think deliberate. But she did think it is her pleasure to be the public relations of the government as she could involve the policy making, serve the public and contribute to the society at the front line, also to gain precious and invaluable experiences in her life.