ADMINISTRATION
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The Public Works Department, under a Director, consists of eight sub-departments, dealing with waterworks, Crown lands and surveys, the administration of the Buildings Ordinance, electrical and mechanical
mechanical works
works (including government motor transport), architecture (government build- ings), port works, drainage, and roads. The Director of Public Works is also responsible for town planning. (See the Chapters on Housing, and Public Utilities and Public Works).
The Urban Council, constituted under the Urban Council Ordinance, consists of a Chairman (who is at the same time. Director of the Urban Services Department), a Vice-Chairman (who is the Assistant Director of Health Services in the Medical Department), the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Social Welfare Officer, the Commissioner for Resettlement, and ten non-official members, of whom four are elected and six (of whom three are Chinese) are appointed by the Governor.* The term of office of un- official members is two years. The Council meets monthly to transact official business, but the main work of the Council is dealt with by 36 select committees which meet at frequent intervals. The Council is responsible throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon for public health, sanita- tion, cemeteries, bathing beaches, food factories and shops, restaurants and cafés, hawkers, laundries, public playgrounds, parks, markets and other amenities.
Resettlement of squatters is dealt with by the Com- missioner for Resettlement, head of a recently-formed Department of Resettlement, and by a select committee of the Urban Council. All members of the Council, together with not more than three additional members nominated by the Governor, comprise the Housing Authority. (See also under Public Health and Housing.)
Reference to the Registrar-General's Department will be found in the chapter on Law and Order, and to the Marine, Railway and Civil Aviation Departments, the Post Office and the Royal Observatory under Communications. The Public Relations Office and the Broadcasting Department are described under Press, Broadcasting and Films. The chapter on Production describes the work of the Department of
* These figures are correct for the year 1955. Unofficial membership
is being increased in 1956.