ENG-1990 — Page 60

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

aim to have fewer records to store, better records to use and more economical record management costs to finance.

In September 1990, the government launched a pilot scheme to initiate records management programmes in five departments: Buildings and Lands Department; Housing Department; Immigration Department; Inland Revenue Department, and Social Welfare Department. It is expected that programmes will eventually extend to all government departments.

The Public Records Office is now one of the largest local sources of information for historical and other studies relating to Hong Kong. It constitutes the memory of the government for reference to legal, administrative and financial precedent.

Government Property Agency

Following re-organisation of the system of managing the government estate, the Govern- ment Property Agency was established on April 1, 1990, to administer all government property matters. The agency was formed by the amalgamation of the Property Division of the Government Secretariat's Finance Branch, the Leasing Division of Rating and Valuation Department and part of the Property Management Section of Buildings and Lands Department.

The agency's objective is to administer efficiently and cost-effectively all government owned and leased offices, quarters and specialist accommodation, and to develop and implement a comprehensive property plan for the economic use of government properties.

In its first year of operation, the agency will give priority to preparing a comprehensive estate plan to facilitate the identification of sites suitable for redevelopment or disposal; the introduction of appropriate commercial activities in government properties; the form- ulation of measures to improve the design and management of government properties; the examination of the spatial and locational needs of government departments with a view to optimising their use of accommodation, and promoting among government departments awareness of the cost of the accommodation they occupy and the need to optimise use of this valuable resource.

Language

The official languages of Hong Kong are English and Chinese. This is enshrined in the Official Languages Ordinance enacted in 1974. Both languages are accorded equal status and enjoy equality of use in all manner of communications between government departments and members of the public. Correspondence in Chinese is replied to by departments either in Chinese or in English accompanied by a Chinese text. Major reports and publications of public interest issued by the government are available in both languages. In spoken language, Cantonese (the Guangzhou dialect) is most common among the local Chinese population while Putonghua (Mandarin) has gained popularity as closer ties with China are being developed. English continues to be used not only by the expatriate community but also a wide cross-section of the local community involved in commercial, financial and professional circles. Since 1972, simultaneous interpretation has been provided at meetings of the Legislative Council, Urban Council, Regional Council, District Boards and other government boards and committees where English and Cantonese are used. A Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee was set up in October 1988 and the first bilingual legislation enacted in April 1989.

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