ENG-1954 — Page 343

ADMINISTRATION

The Urban Council has responsibilities under the public health laws governing sanitation, food inspection, and related matters in the urban district, which comprises the whole of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon. The Council has power to make by-laws under the various ordinances, and these by-laws are subject to approval by Legislative Council before enactment. The Council is also responsible for the disposal of the dead, the control of hawkers, advertise- ments, amenities, public parks and playgrounds, bathing beaches and has some responsibilities with regard to the resettlement of squatters. The Council is constituted under the Urban Council Ordinance and consists of a Chairman, who is also the Director of the Urban Services Department, a Vice-Chairman (who is the Deputy Director of Health Services in the Medical Department), the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Social Welfare Officer and the Commissioner for Resettlement, who are all officials, and ten unofficial members, of whom four are elected and six (of whom three must be Chinese) are appointed by the Governor. The term of office of unofficial members is two years. The Council meets fortnightly to transact official business but the main work of the Council is dealt with by 34 select com- mittees which meet at very frequent intervals.

Education is in the hands of the Director of Education who controls government schools and supervises all private schools in the Colony.

Communications. The Director of Marine, the Director of Civil Aviation and the General Manager of the Kowloon-Canton Railway are responsible for sea, air and rail traffic, while the Director of Public Works,

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