XN000022-1985-04-02 — Page 2

1

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985

SEVERAL BRANCH RESPONSIBILITIES REVISED

****

THE SCHEDULES OF RESPONSIBILITY OF SEVERAL SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN REVISED FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND A DEPARTMENTAL AND SECRETARIAT REORGANISATION EFFECTIVE THIS MONTH.

A MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH HAVE BEEN SET UP WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND A REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS COME INTO OPERATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH AND THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, AS WELL AS THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BECOME DEFUNCT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH HAS ASSUMED POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS (SUCH AS REFUSE COLLECTION, CEMETERIES, ABATTOIRS AND MARKETS) 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 FORMER HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH.

IT HAS ALSO ASSUMED 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.

+

THE BRANCH IS ACCOMMODATED AT HARBOUR CENTRE WAN CHAI AND 13 HEADED BY A SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, ASSISTED BY TWO DEPUTY SECRETARIES- ONE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION (MRS MABEL HAYES) AND ONE FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE (MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON), WHOSE TITLE iS STYLED COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH MAS ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FORMER COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, MAINLY FOR SERVICING THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE HK GOVERNMENT'S OVERSEAS OFFICES IN THE US, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA, AND POLICY AND PLANNING IN RESPECT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION. IT HAS ALSO TAKEN OVER A RANGE OF FUNCTIONS, GENERALLY RELATED TO INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, FOR WHICH PREVIOUSLY THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH HAD POLICY RESPONSIBILITY.

SOME TRADITIONAL