CHAPTER 13
THE ADMINISTRATION
171. The Colonial Secretariat, which works under the direction of the Colonial Secretary and his Deputy, is responsible for planning and organization as well as for the co-ordination of the work of other depart- ments. It is divided into branches: Financial and Economic (under the direction of the Financial Secretary) Establishment, Land, Defence, Councils and General.
172. At the outbreak of the riots at San Po Kong on 11th May the Emergency Control Centre, which is supervised by the Defence Secre- tary, was manned by Secretariat officers working in shifts throughout the twenty-four hours. This centre, which is also manned during typhoons and other emergencies, acts as a clearing-house for all informa- tion passed to it by departments and it is responsible for keeping the Governor and other senior officers informed of the progress of events as well as for conveying orders and instructions to departments.
173. The Emergency Control Centre remained in continuous opera- tion until 25th May and for a further month thereafter it was manned by Secretariat officers during the night, the Defence Branch acting as an information and liaison centre during the day.
174. As confrontation continued it soon became apparent that the Defence Branch of the Secretariat, which would normally deal with an emergency of this sort, could not continue to be responsible for co- ordinating the various measures required in addition to its ordinary work. On 22nd May therefore an officer was appointed as Personal Assistant to the Governor with direct responsibility for confrontation matters. On 25th June the title of this officer was changed to Deputy Colonial Secretary (Special Duties) and he was given a staff of three officers. This unit was still in operation at the end of the year and by relieving other Secretariat officers of much of the work arising from con- frontation it enabled them to continue their normal-and heavy- schedules of duties.
175. From the start of the disturbances there were frequent meetings at Government House, attended by senior Government servants and representatives of the Armed Forces, to pool information and to formu- late policy. On 27th October the Governor's Committee, as it was called, was reorganized to meet twice weekly with joint civil and military
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