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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Public Services Commission, a body independent of the Govern- ment, set up in 1950. Sir Charles Hartwell, CMG, is the full-time chairman of the Commission, and local leading citizens are appointed as members of the Commission on a part-time voluntary basis.

Overall responsibility for recruitment, promotion, training and conditions of service in the Public Service is exercised by the Estab- lishment Branch of the Colonial Secretariat.

CONCLUSION

It will be seen that this system of public administration is unusual in a sophisticated community such as Hong Kong, but it is well suit- ed to local conditions and the economic and social progress made since the war indicates that it works with a substantial degree of efficiency. The Government, though prevented by its peculiar situa- tion from following a normal pattern of constitutional development, nevertheless attaches the greatest possible importance to ascertain- ing and, as far as practicable, meeting public aspirations and needs.

The structure of the Government is by no means static, and institutional and organisational developments still continue on a pragmatic basis to meet the needs of an exceptionally resilient and robust community.

The government of a Colony unique in the twentieth century poses problems to which neither history nor practice elsewhere provide solutions, but which will continue to be tackled in a vigorous and imaginative way.

市政局公立國

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