CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
209
In the New Territories the District Commissioner and his five District Officers also exercise political and co-ordinating responsibilities, and in addition perform certain executive functions, principally in relation to land administration. The arrangements for consultation with the people are more formalised to the extent that there is a village representative system. More than 900 village representatives are chosen from over 600 villages. Villages are grouped under 27 rural committees, each of which has an executive committee. With one exception, all the executive committees of the rural committees are selected by secret ballot every two years by village rep- resentatives. The rural committees execute minor works and carry out certain tasks on behalf of the government, receiving a small monthly subvention to cover part of their expenses. Within its own area the rural committee acts as spokesman for local public opinion, mediates in clan and family disputes, and generally provides a bridge between the New Territories Administration and the people.
The chairman and vice-chairman of the 27 rural committees, with the unofficial New Territories Justices of the Peace and 21 special councillors, elected every two years, form the Full Council of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk, whose title may be translated into English as 'rural consultative council'. Under the constitution established by the Heung Yee Kuk Ordinance, the Kuk has an executive committee which meets monthly and consists of the chairmen of rural committees, the un- official New Territories Justices of the Peace and 15 ordinary members elected every two years by the Full Council. The Full Council also elects the chairman and two vice-chairmen of the Kuk, through whom close contact is maintained with the District Commissioner.
Use of the Chinese Language
The year saw significant developments towards bilingualism on the initiative of the government. Following financial approval of the abitious expansion plans put up by the Secretary for Home Affairs in his capacity as the Chinese Language Authority-- including considerably enhanced career prospects in the translation-interpretation field-recruitment drives were simultaneously launched at three separate levels. After encouraging results from these recruitment drives, two senior scholars were recruited to head the translation services division and the translation development, training and research division. Most of the vacancies at the rank of senior interpreter- translators were filled by direct recruitment of mature scholars and promotion of serving officers. Two other consecutive drives were launched in an all-out effort to recruit qualified candidates to fill the much expanded basic rank of interpreter- translator II. Nearly all vacancies were filled by the end of the year.
As more highly qualified translators began to staff the translation service, efforts were made, through specialisation, to concentrate on translation work at a high level covering the full spectrum of government business. During the year, simultaneous interpretation facilities were extended to regular meetings of the Urban Council and to its standing committee and 13 select committees. While it is necessary to expand government translation services at a rapid pace, the need to raise the standard of translation to an internationally accepted level is also fully recognised. To this end,