ENG-1948 — Page 188

Civil Service. There are five legal sub-departments, excluding the judiciary. Since 1938 the Financial Secretary has assumed a purely administrative function in the Secretariat and under his direction the Treasury is responsible for the public accounts. The Rating and Valuation Department deals with the assessment and collection of rates, and the Department of Inland Revenue is concerned with the collection of direct taxation levied under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, 1947. The Superintendent of Imports and Exports is charged with the collection of imports and excise duties and with the direction of preventive work.

The Secretary for Chinese Affairs is a senior administrative officer and has a wide and general responsibility in all matters affecting the Chinese community. The Commissioner of Labour is responsible, inter alia, for ensuring that conditions in factories and workshops, particularly with regard to health and safety, are in accordance with the requirements of existing legislation. In cases of trade disputes the Commissioner does not actually arbitrate but provides a channel for the pursuit of negotiations between the parties involved. The Social Welfare Officer operates under the general direction of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Among his functions are included protection of women and girls, the inspection of emigrant ships, supervision of child and juvenile welfare and the general co-ordination of all welfare activities in the Colony. The Medical Department and the Sanitary Department deal with public health, and the Public Works Department is concerned with roads, buildings, waterworks, piers, Government transport and similar matters.

The Head of the Sanitary Department is, ex officio, the chairman of the Urban Council. This Council's functions and authority are more restricted than its title suggests, and are subordinate in many respects to the executive authority of Government. The Council's power to originate subsidiary legislation in matters concerning public health and conservancy is subject to confirmation by the Legislative Council.

The administration of the New Territories is in the charge of a District Commissioner, assisted by a District Officer for each of the three districts: Yuen Long in the west, Taipo in the north and east, and the Southern District. The District Officers Yuen Long and Taipo each sit as Magistrates three days a week, on alternate days, and hear debts cases. Much of the time of District Officers is occupied in hearing disputes concerning land, in which sphere they have powers similar to those of the Supreme Court. With the help of the Medical and Health Officer, the Department is responsible in the New Territories for much of the work done in the city by the. Urban Council.

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