ENG-1954 — Page 344

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

in addition to his duties in connexion with the cons- truction and maintenance of government buildings, the supervision of other buildings, waterworks, piers and government transport, is responsible for the construc- tion and maintenance of the Colony's roads.

The Postmaster General, is responsible for the collection and delivery of mail. The Royal Observa- tory, under a Director, provides meteorological services for use by aircraft and shipping, issues regular weather forecasts and is responsible for giving typhoon warnings.

Law and Order. The Attorney General is the adviser to Government on all legal matters and is also the public prosecutor. The Registrar General is the officer responsible for the registration of companies, trade marks, marriages and land deals and is also the Official Receiver and Official Trustee. Watch and ward in the Colony is kept by the Commissioner of Police, while the Colony's prisons are the responsibility of the Commissioner of Prisons. The Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade has an efficient and up-to-date force under his command.

New Territories. 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. In addition to general administrative duties, District Officers continue to hold Small Debts Courts and Land Courts, though magisterial duties in the New Territories, which were hitherto also undertaken by the District Officers, were handed over to the Judiciary during the course of the year. District Officers carry out the functions of the

274