ENG-1978 — Page 327

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

With the increasing urbanisation of large areas of the New Territories, especially in the new towns, an increasing number of residents fall outside the scope of the rural representative system. Many new urban-based organisations, such as Mutual Aid Committees and District Fight Crime Committees, have sprung up in recent years and government keeps in close touch with them through the District Offices. In Tsuen Wan, where 70 per cent of the town's population of just over 553,000 lives in public housing, the District Officer's post has been upgraded to that of a Town Manager, who has special responsibilities to build community facilities and promote community involvement in the new town. Two Town Offices, similar to the City District Offices in the urban areas, have been set up in Tsuen Wan to assist in the community building and involvement process.

In his address to the Legislative Council in October, 1977, the Governor announced that Advisory Boards were to be established in each district of the New Territories. The role of the boards, with a majority of unofficials drawn from a cross-section of each local community, is to advise the government on matters affecting the well-being of their communities. Each board is allocated funds by the government to enable it to make minor environmental improvements and to promote recreational and cultural activities on a local basis. The boards also give advice to the government on the public works programme as it affects each district.

The boards have already made an impact and initial response to their activities is very encouraging. The boards are not intended to dispense with long established channels of communication with rural people, but to broaden the consultative process at a time of rapid urbanisation.

Foreign Relations

The foreign relations of the Hong Kong Government are the responsibility of the British Government, but Hong Kong is permitted a considerable degree of latitude with external trade. The territory's dependence on trade makes it necessary for the Hong Kong Government to operate offices in London, Washington, Geneva and Brussels to maintain and improve commercial relations with other countries.

Judiciary

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Under powers conferred on the Governor by the Supreme Court Ordinance, the Chief Justice, the Justices of Appeal and the Judges of the High Court are appointed by Letters Patent issued under the Public Seal by the Governor on instructions from the Queen, given through and on the recommendation of the Secretary of State. District Judges and magistrates are appointed by the Governor by instrument under the Public Seal or by warrant. The qualifications of Justices of Appeal and Judges of the High Court are prescribed in the Supreme Court Ordinance and those of District Judges in the District Court Ordinance.

The function of the Judiciary is to try all prosecutions and to determine civil dis- putes, whether between individuals or between individuals and the government. The principle of English constitutional law that, in the performance of their judicial acts, members of the Judiciary are completely independent of the executive and legislative organs of the government, is fundamental in Hong Kong. The English common law and the rules of equity are in force in Hong Kong so far as they may be applicable to