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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

The responsibilities of the Government Training Division now include the overall surveillance and co-ordination of training within Government, particularly where it leads to the implementation of the policy of localisation at the recruitment level, and the main- tenance and improvement of efficiency within the Service. In the period under review, the Division awarded 23 Scholarships under the Government Training Scholarship Scheme to enable local officers to obtain qualifications not available locally, but which are necessary for senior posts in the Service. In addition 92 courses for General and Departmental Grades were arranged and attended by 1,800 trainees. 160 local officers were sent to undertake post- graduate study overseas. Such training continues to be important in the maintenance of high standards of service to the public.

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CONCLUSION

It will be seen that this system of public administration is unusual in a sophisticated community such as Hong Kong, but it is well suited to local conditions and the economic and social progress made since the war indicates that it works with a substantial degree of efficiency. The Government, though prevented by its peculiar situation from following a normal pattern of constitutional develop- ment, nevertheless attaches the greatest possible importance to ascertaining and, as far as practicable, meeting public aspirations and needs.

The structure of the Government is by no means static, and institutional and organisational' developments still continue on a pragmatic basis to meet the needs of an exceptionally resilient and robust community.

The government of a Colony unique in the twentieth century poses problems to which neither history nor practice elsewhere provide solutions, but which will continue to be tackled in a vigorous and imaginative way.