CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
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Hong Kong and various ministries and departments of the British Government.
The London Office keeps British commercial, economic and industrial developments and official thinking on world-wide trade policies under review and advises the Hong Kong Government of the likely repercussions of these developments on Hong Kong. It also keeps under review the needs of Hong Kong residents in Britain, maintains contact with them and assists them over problems arising from their residence in Britain or relating to their families and interests in Hong Kong.
The London Office also operates well-developed publicity serv- ices aimed at projecting Hong Kong's image to the British public and the Chinese community in Britain. It has special sections to look after the interests of Hong Kong students, including nurses and Government trainees, resident in Britain.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
The administrative functions of the Government are discharged by about 40 departments, most of which are organised on a func- tional basis and have responsibilities covering the whole Colony. This form of organisation, rather than one based on authorities with responsibilities in a limited geographical area only, 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.
SECRETARIAT FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND NEW
TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION
The two government departments most closely concerned with the reactions of the people to government policies and plans are the Secretariat for Home Affairs, which controls the City District Officers in the urban areas, and the New Territories Administration under which come the District Officers stationed in the New Ter- ritories. Hong Kong Island has four districts, Kowloon six and the New Territories five. A primary function of both departments is to assess the impact of contemplated new policies upon the inhabitants and, when they are adopted, to explain these policies to the public.