ENG-1966 — Page 358

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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departments and makes, or transmits from the Governor, the Governor in Council, or the Colonial Secretary, all general policy decisions. The Financial Secretary is responsible for financial and economic policy, the Establishment Officer deals with all matters relating to the Public Service, and the Defence Secretary advises on defence, co-ordinates the work of the local forces and acts as the main channel of communication between the government and Her Majesty's Armed Forces stationed in the Colony. The Secre- tariat includes a Political Adviser seconded from the Foreign Office.

The Secretary for Chinese Affairs is the Governor's principal adviser on Chinese traditions and ways of life, and is also charged with special responsibilities for strengthening channels of direct communication between the government and Hong Kong's Chinese people at all levels. This is done largely by constant personal con- tacts, from departmental headquarters and five branch offices, with the men and women who are the elected or natural leaders in some three to four hundred Chinese societies. These range from Hong Kong's premier charitable organization, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, to some of the smaller clansmen's associa- tions, and from the 600,000-strong kaifong movement to close- knit Buddhist groups. In practice there is no aspect of the govern- ment's work on which Hong Kong people do not seek information, advice or help from the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. In addition, as a body corporate, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs administers, with the advice of predominantly Chinese committees, 10 social service trust funds totalling $12 million in cash and securities, as well as most of Hong Kong's Chinese temples.

Hong Kong's drive against narcotics is co-ordinated by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, with the help of a strongly con- stituted Narcotics Advisory Committee at policy level, and another and larger Action Committee Against Narcotics. The Action Com- mittee effectively provides at operational level for the fullest exchange of opinions and information, and for a system of practical co- ordination between nine executive branches of the government and seven voluntary organizations.

Particular responsibilities with regard to some of Hong Kong's housing problems come to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs through his participation in two housing organizations, in the Urban Council