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HEALTH
New Territories Services Department The responsibilities and functions of the New Territories Services Department in the New Territories are similar to those of the City Services Department in the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. They include the maintenance of satisfactory standards of public health, the administration of such services as cemeteries and crematoria, cleansing and pest control, the control of hawkers and the management of public markets and recreational facilities.
During the year, the structure of the department was reorganised, initially on a trial basis, with the creation of a new operations division, replacing the regional headquarters, to oversee the work of the nine district offices. The trial scheme proved successful in reducing staff costs and improving work efficiency, and was adopted on a permanent basis in December.
The department was able to cope with ever-increasing commitments, stemming from the continuing rapid pace of new town development, by making better use of resources. A total of 19 capital projects was completed in 1983 and 513 new projects are planned. These include markets and cooked food centres, pleasure and sports grounds, nurseries, indoor games halls, swimming pools, beach buildings, crematoria and columbaria, public toilets, refuse collection points and abattoirs.
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