ENG-1972 — Page 288

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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transferred to the Secretariat for Home Affairs. A post of Commissioner for Television and Films was created with overall responsibility for the following: carrying out the functions of the Television Authority; exercising policy control over commercial broadcasting; implementing the government's policy relating to the grant of new wire- less television broadcasting licences; the future of wired television; community aerial television and aerial distribution systems; and all matters relating to film censorship. Mr N. J. V. Watt, OBE, JP, formerly Director of Information Services, was appointed as the first Commissioner for Television and Films.

In the New Territories the District Commissioner and his five District Officers also exercise political and co-ordinating responsibilities, and in addition perform cer- tain executive functions, principally in relation to land administration. The arrange- ments for consultation with the people are more formalised to the extent that there is a village representative system. More than 900 Village Representatives are chosen from over 600 villages. Villages are grouped under 27 Rural Committees, each of which has an executive committee. With one exception, all the executive committees of the Rural Committees are selected by secret ballot every two years by village rep- resentatives. The Rural Committees execute minor works and carry out certain tasks on behalf of the government, receiving a small monthly subvention to cover part of their expenses. Within its own area the Rural Committee acts as spokesman for local public opinion, mediates in clan and family disputes, and generally provides a bridge between the New Territories Administration and the people.

The chairman and vice-chairman of the 27 Rural Committees, with the unofficial New Territories Justices of the Peace and 21 Special Councillors, elected every two years, form the Full Council of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk whose title may be translated into English as 'Rural Consultative Council'. The Kuk serves as a forum of New Territories opinion from which the government seeks advice on New Terri- tories affairs. Under the constitution established by the Heung Yee Kuk Ordinance, the Kuk has an executive committee which meets monthly and consists of the chairmen of Rural Committees, the unofficial New Territories Justices of the Peace and 15 ordinary members elected every two years by the Full Council. The Full Council also elects the chairman and two vice-chairmen of the Kuk, through whom close contact is maintained with the District Commissioner.

Use of the Chinese Language

In October 1970 a special committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Ping-fan Fung, was appointed by the Governor 'to examine the use of Chinese in official business, and to advise on practicable ways and means by which the use of Chinese might be further extended in the interest of good administration and for the conven- ience of the public'. This committee submitted four reports and recommended, among other things, the provision of simultaneous interpretation facilities for the Legislative Council and the Urban Council, a considerable expansion of the government's trans- lation services and a much wider use of the Chinese language not only in ordinary communication with the Chinese-speaking public but also in the courts. The committee further recommended the setting up of a controlling authority charged with the