TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 65

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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.

Government and the Community

The two government departments most closely

concerned with the reactions of the public to government

policies and plans are the Home Affairs Department and the

New Territories Administration. The former controls 10 City

District Officers in the urban areas: the latter 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 and, when they are adopted, to

explain these policies to the public. They also report on

trends of public opinion in the districts.

The City District Officers have few executive

functions: they generally exercise a local coordinating

function and keep in very close touch with local organisations

and residents. The New Territories District Officers perform

a similar function but in addition have executive responsibilitie

principally in relation to land administration.

Their

arrangements for consultation are more formalised to the

extent that there is a system of elected village representatives

and rural committee chairman. The latter, together with

New Territories Justices of the Peace and some special

councillors, form the Heung Yee Kuk, a statutory advisory

body for the New Territories.

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