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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
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Kong. It is concerned with the welfare 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. It operates well- developed publicity services aimed at projecting Hong Kong's image to the British public and the Chinese community in Britain. It also has special sections to look after the interests of Hong Kong students, including nurses and government trainees resident in Britain.
Following the assumption in 1974 of responsibility for recruitment in Britain of inspectors for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the appointments division of the London Office became responsible in July 1975 for all government recruitment in Britain that was formerly handled by the Crown Agents. The division also recruits people of Hong Kong origin in the United Kingdom to the public service, and main- tains close liaison with various official bodies in Britain concerned with recruiting expatriate staff.
The London Office has responsibility for an experimental training course in Oxford, designed for young Chinese administrative officers on probation. Under a Director of Studies seconded from Hong Kong, they study management, economics and government for an academic year.
Government Departments
The administrative functions of the government are discharged by more than 40 departments, most of which are organised on a functional basis and have responsibil- ities covering all Hong Kong. This form of organisation, rather than one based on authorities with responsibilities in a limited geographical area, 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.
Home Affairs Department and New Territories Administration
The two government departments most closely concerned with the reactions of the people to government policies and plans are the Home Affairs Department and the New Territories Administration.
The Home Affairs Department controls the 10 city district officers in the urban areas while the New Territories Administration is in charge of the seven district officers stationed in the New Territories. A primary function of both departments is to assess the impact of contemplated new policies on the population and, when they are adopted, to explain these policies to the public. They also report on trends of public opinion in the districts. In this general connection it has long been the practice of these two departments to foster links with a variety of private organisations including, in the urban areas, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Po Leung Kuk, kaifong associations, district and clansmen's associations, mutual aid committees, multi-storey building associations, religious organisations, and youth groups.
The city district office scheme, modelled on the long-established district officer system, was introduced during 1968. The 10 city district officers (six in Kowloon and four on Hong Kong Island) are charged with the three-fold duty of rendering services