TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 457

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a branch dealing with the machinery of government and a branch dealing

with New Territories' affairs. Each branch, except the Administration

Branch, is headed by a secretary.

branch

The policy branches are based on

programme areas, as indicated by their titles: Economic Services,

Environment, Home Affairs, Information, Housing, Security, Social

Services, and Monetary Affairs. (The creation of a ninth policy

Education was announced in November 1980, but it will not

become operational until late 1981.) The two resource branches

Civil Service and Finance - deal with the government's personnel and

finances. A political adviser, seconded from the Foreign Office,

advises on the external political aspects of government policies.

9.

The administrative functions of the government are dis-

charged at present by 49 departments, most of which are organised on

a functional basis and have responsibilities covering all Hong Kong.

This form of organisation, rather than one based on authorities with

responsibilities for limited geographical areas, is considered to be

the most appropriate for this small, compact territory.

there is a necessary and growing regional element in the way in

which many departments are organised, and this is particularly

important in the extension of services to the new towns of the New

Territories.

However,

10.

The role of the Home Affairs Department is particularly

significant in the day-to-day business of the government, one of its

main functions being to monitor public opinion on current affairs,

to assess public response to proposed government policies and