SERVICES FOR GOVERNMENT
'By developing the widest possible contacts with associations and individuals in your district, you should aim to supplement with personal explanation Government's output of information through the mass communication media . . . Through your familiarity with the district and with the problems and needs of the people, you will be in a special position to advise on public opinion and local needs.'
Directive to City District Officers.
35. This section deals with that part of the work most directly con- cerned with putting over government ideas, gathering opinion, co- ordination of departmental activities and the impact of the scheme on other departments.
36. The first two tasks depend entirely on the effectiveness of our contacts with the public. We started from the position that the S.C.A. had contacts with a good many organizations such as the Tung Wah Hospital Group, the Po Leung Kuk, the Lok Shin Tong, traditional religious or philosophical associations, kaifong associations, clansmens associations, county associations, multi-storey building associations, trades associations and so forth. The limits of these contacts are nowadays more often recognized than their extent. Some associations make extra- vagant claims of active membership and influence, and the mechanism by which leaders represent the views of members cannot always be relied upon. Nevertheless these are the men who have some ambitions in public life. In all societies such men are a small minority and Hong Kong is no exception. To succeed in public life and to achieve the very worthy objects which they genuinely pursue they must seek to gather prestige and so their work has to reflect what they believe people think and want. They have perhaps an undue regard for Government officials with whom they are in regular contact, especially S.C.A. staff, but this is a factor which is as readily recognized and discounted in Hong Kong as else- where; the importance of these traditional contacts and the value of the work these organizations do should not be under-estimated. C.D.O.s have maintained these contacts and the considerable increase in staff has meant that those willing to do more work have been put under greater pressure.
37. We have however been very conscious that these traditional contacts do not for the most part necessarily reach the poorer people or
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