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limited geographical area, is suitable for this small,
compact territory and has enabled the government to provide
services without regard to the capacity of residents of
various districts to pay taxes.
Government and the Community
The two government departments most closely
concerned with the reactions of the public to government
policies and plans are the Home Affairs Department and the
New Territories Administration. The former controls 10 City
District Officers in the urban areas: the latter is in charge
of the seven District Officers stationed in the New Territories.
A primary function of both departments is to assess the impact
of contemplated new policies and, when they are adopted, to
explain these policies to the public. They also report on
trends of public opinion in the districts.
The City District Officers have few executive
functions: they generally exercise a local coordinating
function and keep in very close touch with local organisations
and residents. The New Territories District Officers perform
a similar function but in addition have executive responsibilitie
principally in relation to land administration.
Their
arrangements for consultation are more formalised to the
extent that there is a system of elected village representatives
and rural committee chairman. The latter, together with
New Territories Justices of the Peace and some special
councillors, form the Heung Yee Kuk, a statutory advisory
body for the New Territories.
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