ADMINISTRATION

Social Services. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs is a senior administrative officer and has a wide and general responsibility in all matters affecting the Chinese community. The Commissioner of Labour is responsible for ensuring that the conditions in factories and workshops, particularly with regard to health and safety, are in accordance with the requirements of existing legislation, for providing conciliation machinery for the settlement of disputes about wages and other terms of service, for encouraging modern trade unionism, and for implementing such International Labour Conventions as can be applied to the Colony. The Social Welfare Officer operates under the general direction of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and among his duties are included the protection of women and girls, the inspection of emigrant ships, the supervision of child and juvenile welfare and the general co-ordination of all welfare activities in the Colony.

The Director of Medical and Health Services, whose department is divided into the hospital, health and investiga- tion divisions, together with the Head of the Urban Services Department is responsible for the general health of the Colony. The Head of the Urban Services Department is ex-officio the Chairman of the Urban Council which has certain powers, subject to confirmation by the Legislative Council, to originate subsidiary legislation in matters concerning public health. The maintenance of public gardens was taken over by this depart- ment during the year.

Education is in the hands of the Director of Education who controls government schools and supervises all private schools in the Colony.

Communications. The Director of Marine, the Director of Civil Aviation and the General Manager of the Kowloon- Canton Railway are responsible for sea, air and rail traffic

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