The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is headed by the Chief Executive.

He is advised on major policy decisions by the Executive Council.

The HKSAR has a two-tier system of representative government. At the central level is the Legislative Council which legislates, controls public expenditure and monitors the performance of the Administration. At the district level, 18 district councils advise on the implementation of policies in their respective areas.

The Administration, the executive arm of the Government, is organised into the Government Secretariat and departments. Government Secretariat Bureaux formulate policies and initiate legislative proposals. Departments implement laws and policies and provide direct services to the community.

The HKSAR has an independent Judiciary. It is responsible for the administration of justice and interprets the laws enacted by the legislature.

The systems practised in Hong Kong are prescribed by the Basic Law, the constitutional document of the HKSAR which came into effect upon its establishment on July 1, 1997.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Basic Law stipulates that the Chief Executive shall be elected by a broadly representative Election Committee in accordance with the Basic Law and appointed by the Central People's Government.

The first and incumbent Chief Executive was chosen by a committee of 400 Hong Kong residents, drawn from all walks of life. He was nominated by the majority of members of a broadly representative Election Committee in February 2002 and was returned unopposed for a second term which began in July 2002. According to the Basic Law, the ultimate aim is to select the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures.

Term of Office of the Chief Executive: The term of office of the Chief Executive shall be five years. He or she may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.

Powers and functions of the Chief Executive: The Chief Executive leads the Government of the HKSAR, decides on government policies and issues executive orders. He is responsible for the implementation of the Basic Law and other laws which, in accordance with the Basic Law, apply in the HKSAR.

He signs bills passed by the Legislative Council and promulgates laws. He also signs budgets passed by the Legislative Council and reports the budgets and final accounts to the Central People's Government for record.

The Chief Executive nominates and reports to the Central People's Government for appointment the principal officials of the HKSAR, and recommends their removal. He appoints or removes judges of the courts and holders of public office in accordance with legal procedures.

He implements the directives issued by the Central People's Government in respect of the relevant matters provided for in the Basic Law and conducts, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, external affairs and other affairs as authorised by the Central Authorities.

The Chief Executive approves the introduction of motions regarding revenues or expenditure to the Legislative Council. He also decides, in the light of security and vital public interests, whether government officials or other personnel in charge of government affairs should testify or give evidence before the Legislative Council or its committees. His other functions include pardoning of persons convicted of criminal offences or commuting their penalties and handling of petitions and complaints.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Appointment and Removal of Executive Council Members: Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR are appointed by the Chief Executive from among the principal officials of the executive authorities, members of the Legislative Council and public figures. From July 1, 2002, the membership of the Executive Council comprises the 14 Principal Officials appointed under the Accountability System and five non-officials. Members' appointment or removal is decided by the Chief Executive.

Terms of Office of Executive Council Members: Members hold office for a period no longer than the expiry of the term of office of the Chief Executive who appoints them.

Purview of the Executive Council: The Executive Council normally meets once a week. The Chief Executive presides over its meetings. He is required by the Basic Law to consult the council before making important policy decisions, introducing bills into the Legislative Council, making subordinate legislation or dissolving the Legislative Council, but not for example on the appointment, removal and disciplining of officials and the adoption of measures in emergencies.

The Chief Executive decides what matters should be put before the Executive Council. The council advises the Chief Executive, who then makes a decision. Members tender their advice individually, but the council's conclusions are presented as collective decisions. If the Chief Executive does not accept a majority opinion of the Executive Council, he must put the specific reasons on record.

Relationship between the Executive Council and Legislative Council: The Executive Council advises the Chief Executive on all important policies. Expenditure of public funds for policies decided by the Executive Council is subject to such funds being approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. The Executive Council also advises upon all principal legislation before it is introduced into the Legislative Council, and has the power to make subsidiary legislation under a number of ordinances passed by the Legislative Council.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
According to the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR is to be constituted by election. The method for its formation is to be specified in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.

The Basic Law provides that changes to the composition of the Legislative Council after 2007 may be made by a two-thirds majority of Members of the Legislative Council and with the consent of the Chief Executive. Any such changes are to be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for record. The Basic Law also provides that the ultimate aim is the election of all the Members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

The election to the second term of the Legislative Council was held on September 10, 2000. The term of office of the Legislative Council is four years which began on October 1, 2000. The President of the Legislative Council is elected by and from among members of the Legislative Council.

Functions and Powers of the Legislative Council: As provided for in Article 73 of the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR exercises the following powers and functions:

·  To enact, amend or repeal laws in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and legal procedures;

·  To examine and approve budgets introduced by the Government;

·  To approve taxation and public expenditure;

·  To receive and debate the policy addresses of the Chief Executive;

·  To raise questions on the work of the Government;

·  To debate any issue concerning public interests;

·  To endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court;

·  To receive and handle complaints from Hong Kong residents;

·  If a motion initiated jointly by one-fourth of all the Members of the Legislative Council charges the Chief Executive with serious breach of law or dereliction of duty and if he or she refuses to resign, the council may, after passing a motion for investigation, give a mandate to the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal to form and chair an independent investigation committee.

The committee shall be responsible for carrying out the investigation and reporting its findings to the council. If the committee considers the evidence sufficient to substantiate such charges, the council may pass a motion of impeachment by a two-thirds majority of all its members and report it to the Central People's Government for decision;

·  To summon, as required when exercising the above-mentioned powers and functions, persons concerned to testify or give evidence.

Enacting Laws: Typically, the formulation of legislative proposals may start with discussions between the Government and the relevant Legislative Council panels; the relevant advisory committees; and in many cases, chambers of commerce and trade associations, and district councils. During the course of these discussions, the original proposals may be revised until they command a high degree of general support.

The Government then submits its proposal to the Executive Council and seeks the Chief Executive in Council's approval to introduce the bill into the Legislative Council. Usually, within about two or three weeks after the endorsement of the Executive Council, the bill will be published in the Gazette and introduced into the Legislative Council for its First Reading. After the official in charge of the bill has moved the bill's Second Reading with a speech explaining the merits and principles of the bill, the Second Reading debate on the bill will normally be adjourned. The bill will then be referred to the House Committee for consideration.

Usually at the next House Committee meeting that follows, members will examine the bill and decide whether a Bills Committee should be formed to study the provisions, or they may cause the bill to be considered in such other manner as the House Committee thinks fit. A Bills Committee thus formed will consider the general merits and principles, and the detailed provisions, of the bill allocated to it and may consider any amendments. At the conclusion of its deliberations, the Bills Committee will report back to the House Committee. The House Committee may then discuss the report of the Bills Committee for the purpose of preparing members for resumption of debate on the bill.

As soon as the above process is completed, the bill returns to the council and resumes its Second Reading debate. If the bill receives Second Reading, it will then go through the committee stage, at which amendments can be moved, and receive the Third Reading. The bill becomes law after it is signed by the Chief Executive and gazetted.

Controlling Public Expenditure: The Government's budget is presented to the Legislative Council in the form of an Appropriation Bill. Similar to the process for scrutinising bills, after the debate on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill is adjourned, the estimates containing the details of the financial requirements in the bill will be referred to the Finance Committee, which is a standing committee of the council, for examination. After the committee has completed examining the estimates, the debate on the Second Reading of the bill is resumed. If supported, the bill will also go to committee stage and then proceed to Third Reading.

Other public expenditure proposals not contained in the Appropriation Bill will be scrutinised and approved by the Finance Committee which will note the financial implications of new policies.

Policy Debates: Following the Chief Executive's Policy Address, Members of the Legislative Council will have the opportunity to put forward their ideas on the development and modification of government policy in the Motion of Thanks debate.

This debate takes place a week after the Chief Executive delivers his Policy Address, to be followed by the Administration's response.

Members frequently hold debates on other issues such as important government policies or on matters of concern to the community at large.

Meetings of the Legislative Council: The council normally meets every Wednesday afternoon in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building to conduct its business while in session. The normal business includes: tabling of subsidiary legislation and other papers; reports; addresses; statements; questions; processing of bills; and motion debates.

All council meetings are open to the public and are conducted in Putonghua, Cantonese or English with simultaneous interpretation provided. The proceedings of the meetings are recorded verbatim in the Official Record of Proceedings of the Legislative Council.

Committee System: Through a system of committee, Members of the Legislative Council perform the important roles of scrutinising bills, controlling public expenditure and monitoring Government's performance. The Legislative Council has three standing committees: the Finance Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and Committee on Members' Interests.

Finance Committee: The Finance Committee consists of all members except the President. The chairman and the deputy chairman are elected from among its members. The committee normally meets in public to scrutinise and approve public expenditure proposals put forward by the Government. Public officers responsible for implementing the relevant policy may be called to answer questions raised by the committee members.

One of the roles of the Finance Committee is to scrutinise the budget presented by the Financial Secretary to the Legislative Council in the form of an Appropriation Bill, which sets out the Government's annual expenditure proposals for the following financial year. After the bill and the draft estimates of expenditure have been examined by the Finance Committee, the bill is brought back to the council for debate.

There are two subcommittees under the Finance Committee: the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee. The Establishment Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's proposals for the creation, redeployment, and deletion of directorate posts, and for changes to the structure of civil service grades and ranks.

The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's expenditure proposals under the Capital Works Reserve Fund for projects in the public works programme and building projects carried out by or on behalf of subvented organisations.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC): The PAC considers reports of the Director of Audit on the accounts and the results of value-for-money audits of the Government and other organisations which are within the purview of public audit. It may invite public officers and staff of public organisations to attend public hearings to give explanation, evidence or information, or any other persons to assist it in relation to such explanation, evidence or information. The PAC's seven members are appointed by the President in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.

Committee on Members' Interests: The Committee on Members' Interests considers matters pertaining to members' declaration of interests and matters of ethics in relation to their conduct. It investigates complaints regarding members' registration and declaration of interests, and makes recommendations relating to members' interests. The committee also examines arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests. The committee comprises seven members who are appointed by the President of the Council in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.

House Committee: Apart from the above three standing committees, the Legislative Council also has a House Committee which consists of all members except the President. Its chairman and deputy chairman are elected among members. The committee normally meets every Friday afternoon and is responsible for dealing with matters related to the work of the Legislative Council and prepares members for the full council meetings. It also decides whether bills committees or subcommittees should be formed as appropriate to study bills and subsidiary legislation which have been introduced into the Legislative Council.

Bills Committees: Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee to consider the principles and merits of a bill allocated to it for scrutiny. It may also consider the bill's detailed provisions and propose amendments relevant to the bill. A bills committee tables a report in council after it has completed its task. It is dissolved on the passage of the bill concerned through the Legislative Council or when the House Committee so decides.

Committee on Rules of Procedure: The Committee on Rules of Procedure is responsible for reviewing the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council and proposing to the council such amendments as are considered necessary. The committee consists of 12 members and they are appointed by the President in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.

Panels: To monitor the performance of the Government in different policy areas, the Legislative Council has established 18 panels to monitor and examine government policies. These panels also give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their formal introduction into the council or Finance Committee, and examine important issues of wide public concern as referred by the council, House Committee or as raised by the panel members themselves.

DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS
District Councils: The second district council election of the HKSAR was held on November 23, 2003 to return 400 elected members to the 18 district councils. Besides, there are 27 ex-officio members (who are rural committee chairmen in the New Territories) and 102 appointed members. The 18 district councils advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people and on the adequacy and priorities of government programmes in their respective districts. The district councils also undertake environmental improvements and promote recreational, cultural and community activities within their respective districts. Their term of office is four years starting from January 1, 2004.

THE ADMINISTRATION
The main administrative and executive functions of government are carried out by 11 policy bureaux in the Government Secretariat, and 67 departments and agencies, mostly staffed by civil servants.

With the implementation of the accountability system for principal officials on 1 July 2002, the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice and 11 Directors of Bureaux are the most important officials within the Government. The Chief Secretary for Administration is the most senior among the three Secretaries of Departments to deputise for the Chief Executive. The Chief Secretary for Administration assists the Chief Executive in supervising the policy bureaux as directed by him and plays a key role in ensuring harmonisation in policy formulation and implementation.

The Civil Service: The civil service provides the staff for all government departments and other units of the Administration. It employed some 160 100 people (excluding about 1 500 ICAC officers and judicial officers), or about five per cent of the workforce in Hong Kong, as at September 30, 2004. In 2003/04, due to the continuing efforts in process streamlining, and the implementation of a voluntary retirement scheme, the strength of the service decreased by about four per cent. Wastage from all sources, including resignation and retirement, ranges from two to six per cent of strength from 1993/94 up to now. As announced by the Chief Executive in the 2003 Policy Address, the civil service establishment will be reduced to around 160 000 by 2006/07.

The civil service is a unified service in the sense that its officers are all subject to common appointment procedures and similar disciplinary codes. It is the main role of the civil service to assist the Chief Executive and Principal Officials in formulating their policies, in carrying out their decisions and in administering the public services for which they are responsible.

Because of the compactness of Hong Kong, it has been found advantageous to have a single civil service performing both central and local government functions, and also many of the functions undertaken elsewhere by statutory public bodies. The result is a civil service of great diversity.

In accordance with the Basic Law, new recruits appointed to the civil service on or after July 1, 1997 must be HKSAR permanent residents, save for those who fall within the specified exceptions.

LEGAL SYSTEM
Criminal Prosecutions: The Secretary for Justice, who heads the Department of Justice, is ultimately responsible for all prosecutions in Hong Kong. It is for her to decide whether or not prosecutions should be instituted in any particular case or class of case, and it is her responsibility to conduct and control prosecutions.

The Secretary for Justice plays no part in the investigation of criminal offences, that is the responsibility of the police force and the other law enforcement agencies. However, once the agencies have completed the investigation it is for the Secretary for Justice to decide whether or not that evidence justifies the preferment of criminal charges against any person. In making decisions on prosecution policy, the Secretary for Justice acts as an independent officer, independent, that is, of the Government of which she is a member and of the courts before which she prosecutes. The function which she exercises in this area is part of her function as guardian of the public interest. The principle of prosecutorial independence is guaranteed by Article 63 of the Basic Law, which provides that the Department of Justice of the HKSAR shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference.

The Secretary for Justice and her counsel do not themselves advise on every prosecution which is brought. Some minor prosecutions heard before magistrates are routine matters which are dealt with by law enforcement agencies along settled guidelines issued under the authority of the Secretary for Justice and without individual reference to the Department of Justice. The Secretary for Justice does, however, supervise prosecutions generally and she personally, or by way of specific delegation, considers many sensitive cases and all cases where the law provides that prosecutions may not be brought without her consent.

The Organisation of the Judiciary in Hong Kong: The courts of justice in the HKSAR comprise the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance), the District Court (which includes the Family Court), the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates' Courts, the Juvenile Court, the Coroner's Court, and also the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal and the Obscene Articles Tribunal.

The Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal is the head of the Judiciary. He is assisted by the Judiciary Administrator in the discharge of administrative duties.

Powers and Duties of the Judiciary: The Judiciary is responsible for the administration of justice in Hong Kong. It hears all prosecutions and civil disputes, including disputes between individuals and the Government. It is fundamental to Hong Kong's law that members of the Judiciary are independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.

Independent Trial: It is a fundamental principle of common law jurisdictions that members of the judiciary are completely independent of the executive organ of government in the performance of their judicial duties. This principle has always been applied in Hong Kong. The exercise of the power to govern is itself accountable to the law. Neither the Chief Executive, the civil service nor any police officer is able to exercise a power unless he can point to some authority in law for his acts. An individual can seek redress before the court if the power of government is exceeded or abused. He has against the Government generally the same remedies for wrong-doing as are available against fellow citizens. The independent judiciary, which is responsible to the law itself and not to the Government, will uphold the rule of law and safeguard the rights and freedoms of the individual. Those who frame new laws are inhibited from infringing human rights or well-established legal principles declared and developed by generations of judges.

Jury System: The most serious type of criminal offences, such as murder, manslaughter, rape, armed robbery and drug offences involving large quantities, are tried by a judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, sitting with a jury consisting of seven or, where a judge so orders, nine. It is the jury which decides whether the accused is guilty or not guilty and a majority vote is required. The size of the majority required varies depending on the size of the jury. In some civil cases, a party may elect to have the issues of fact tried by jury.

If a coroner decides to hold an inquest with a jury, a jury of five will be appointed. In certain defined circumstances an inquest with a jury is mandatory. The purpose of an inquest is to establish the identity of a deceased person and the cause and circumstances connected with the death.

Legal System

The legal system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is based on the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the Basic Law. Under the principle of 'one country, two systems', the HKSAR legal system, which is different from that of Mainland China, is based on the common law, supplemented by local legislation. All ordinances in force in the HKSAR are accessible on the Internet at http://www.justice.gov.hk.

Law in the HKSAR: The laws in force in the HKSAR are:

(1) the Basic Law;

(2) national laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law;

(3) the laws in force before July 1, 1997, that were adopted as laws of the HKSAR by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; and

(4) laws enacted by the legislature of the HKSAR.

National laws relating to defence, foreign affairs and other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the HKSAR may be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the HKSAR. Currently, 11 national laws apply in the HKSAR.

The Judiciary: It is fundamental to Hong Kong's legal system that members of the judiciary are independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.

The courts of justice in Hong Kong comprise the Court of Final Appeal, the High Court (which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance), the District Court (which includes the Family Court), the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates' Courts (which include the Juvenile Courts), the Coroner's Court, the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal and the Obscene Articles Tribunal.

Department of Justice: It consists of five professional divisions responsible for legal work. It is headed by the Secretary for Justice, who is a member of the Executive Council and is the Government's chief legal adviser. She has ultimate responsibility for the prosecution of all offences in the HKSAR.

The Legal Policy Division, as well as the Secretary for Justice's Office, provides professional support to the Secretary for Justice in the execution of her duties and provides input on all legal policy issues being considered by the Government. The division advises on issues relating to the administration of justice, the legal system, the legal profession, human rights, the Basic Law and the law of Mainland China. The Law Reform Commission Secretariat, which provides research and secretarial support to the Commission, is within the division.

The Civil Division provides legal advice to the Government on civil law, drafts commercial contracts and franchises and conducts civil litigation, arbitration and mediation on behalf of the Government.

The Law Drafting Division is responsible for drafting all legislation, including subsidiary legislation, in Chinese and English, and assists in steering legislation through the Executive and Legislative Councils. It also has editorial responsibility for the Laws of Hong Kong and for maintaining an up-to-date version of those laws in the Bilingual Laws Information System, a computer database which is available free to the public on the Internet.

Counsel of the Prosecutions Division conduct most criminal appeals up to and including the Court of Final Appeal. They also conduct the majority of trials in the Court of First Instance and the District Court and, when necessary, they prosecute in the Magistrates' Court. The division also provides legal advice to law enforcement agencies and other government departments.

The International Law Division advises the Government on issues relating to public international law. Lawyers in this division also participate in the negotiation of agreements with other jurisdictions and handle requests to and from the HKSAR for international legal co-operation.

Law Reform Commission: The Law Reform Commission considers and reports on such topics as may be referred to it by the Secretary for Justice or the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR. Its membership includes academics, practising lawyers and prominent community members.

The Commission has published reports covering subjects as diverse as commercial arbitration, data protection, divorce, sale of goods and supply of services, insolvency, fraud and statutory interpretation. The recommendations in many of its reports have been implemented, either in whole or in part. It is currently considering references on privacy, guardianship and custody, domicile, privity of contract, advance directives, hearsay in criminal proceedings and conditional fees.

The Legal Profession: As at September 2003, the HKSAR had 840 practising barristers, 5 165 practising solicitors and 652 local law firms, plus some 33 foreign law firms, 627 registered foreign lawyers and six registered associations between foreign law firms and local law firms.

Legal Aid Department: The Director of Legal Aid is responsible for the administration of legal aid. Eligible persons are provided with legal representation depending on their financial circumstances.

Legal Aid for Civil Cases: Legal aid is available for civil proceedings in the District Court, the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal (both part of the High Court), and the Court of Final Appeal. It also covers proceedings in some tribunals and certain Coroner's Court cases.

An applicant must satisfy both a 'means test' and a 'merits test'. For the means test, a person whose total financial resources do not exceed $155,800 may be granted legal aid. The Director of Legal Aid may waive the upper financial limit in meritorious cases when a breach of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights or inconsistency with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong is an issue. For the merits test, the Director must be satisfied that an applicant has reasonable grounds for bringing or defending the civil proceedings to which the application relates. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Director may appeal to the Registrar of the High Court.

Legal Aid for Criminal Cases: Legal aid is available for committal proceedings in the Magistrates' Courts; cases tried in the District Court and the Court of First Instance of the High Court; and appeals from the Magistrates' Courts, and to the Court of Appeal of the High Court or the Court of Final Appeal.

An applicant must satisfy the means test criteria which are the same as for civil cases. Notwithstanding that an applicant's financial resources exceed the statutory limit, the Director of Legal Aid may grant legal aid to the applicant if the Director is satisfied that it is desirable in the interests of justice to do so. However, in appeal cases, the Director of Legal Aid must be satisfied that there are meritorious grounds for appeal with a reasonable prospect of success.

Notwithstanding the refusal of a legal aid application by the Director of Legal Aid, a judge may himself grant aid if the applicant has satisfied the means test. Applicants in cases involving a charge of murder, treason or piracy with violence may apply to a judge for granting of legal aid, and exemption from the means test and from payment of contribution.

Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme: This scheme provides legal representation to the 'sandwich class' whose financial resources are above the upper eligibility limit for legal aid (i.e. $155,800) but do not exceed $432,900. It covers cases involving personal injury or death, as well as medical, dental or legal professional negligence, where the claim for damages is likely to exceed $60,000. The scheme also covers claims under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance irrespective of the amount of the claim.

The Duty Lawyer Service: Three programmes of legal assistance, jointly administered by the Law Society and Bar Association of Hong Kong, are subvented by the Government.

The Duty Lawyer Scheme rosters barristers and solicitors in private practice to appear in the Magistrates and Juvenile Courts on a remunerated basis. The scheme provides representation to all juveniles (defendants under 16) and to most adult defendants charged in the Magistrates' Courts who cannot afford private representation. The defendants are required to pay a handling charge of $300 upon granting of Duty Lawyer representation. In 2002, 45 162 defendants were assisted.

The Legal Advice Scheme, staffed by over 840 volunteer lawyers, operates 10 sessions per week at nine evening centres. In 2002, 6 084 cases were handled. The scheme is not means tested.

A free Tel-Law Service offers trilingual (Cantonese, Putonghua and English) taped information on 73 topics. Eight telephone lines operate 24 hours. In 2002, 51 058 calls were received.

(Source: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government website)

Editor: Catherine