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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1984
THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO BE SERVED BY A RE-ORGANISED URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL INCORPORATE THOSE ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENT RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES AT THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR AND WILL HAVE TWO DEPUTY DIRECTORS, ONE OVERSEEING ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE OTHER RECREATION AND CULTURE. THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR AND THERE WILL BE A SINGLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THE CONSEQUENTIAL REORGANISATION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF TWO NEW BRANCHES - THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH,
THE NEW MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WILL ASSURE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS (REFUSE COLLECTION, CEMETERIES, ABATTOIRS, MARKETS AND THE LIKE) FROM THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS, COUNTRY PARKS AND COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION, LIQUOR LICENSING, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES AT THE TERRITORIAL LEVEL FROM THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH.
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WILL ALSO ASSUME FROM THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE PRINCIPAL SPORTING AND CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS. THESE WILL INCLUDE THE SERVICING OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, GOVERNMENT'S RELATIONS WITH THE ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND SPORTING AND CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE BRANCH WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE FUNCTIONS IN PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION WHICH DERIVE FROM THE NEED TO MAINTAIN COMMON DEPARTMENTAL GRADES FOR THE DEPARTMENTS SERVING THE TWO COUNCILS.
THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WILL BE HEADED BY A NEW SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, AND THERE WILL BE TWO DEPUTY SECRETAR IES ONE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION AND ONE FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE. THE HOLDER OF THIS LATTER POST WILL BE STYLED COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH WILL ASSUME THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, WHICH ARE, PRINCIPALLY, RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICING THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S OVERSEAS OFFICES IN THE U.S., BRUSSELS AND GENEVA, AND POLICY AND PLANNING IN RESPECT OF GOVERNMENT'S OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION. IT WILL ALSO TAKE OVER A RANGE OF ITEMS, MAINLY RELATED TO INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, FOR WHICH THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH CURRENTLY HAS POLICY RESPONSIBILITY.
/ThE BRANCH