Home Affairs Department

The Home Affairs Department (HAD, ) is a executive agency in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China responsible for interior affairs in the region. It reports to the Home Affairs Bureau, headed by the Secretary for Home Affairs.

Purpose

The Department is responsible for the District Administration Scheme, community building and community involvement activities, minor environmental improvement projects and minor local public works, and the licensing of hotels and guesthouses, bedspace apartments and clubs. It promotes the concept of effective building management and works closely with other government departments to consistently improve the standard of building management in Hong Kong. It monitors the provision of new arrival services and identifies measures to meet the needs of new arrivals. It also disseminates information relating to and, where necessary, promotes the public's understanding of major government policies, strategies and development plans; and collects and assesses public opinion on relevant issues affecting the community. These responsibilities are discharged primarily through the 18 district offices covering the whole of Hong Kong.

History

For a long time the department was the only channel of communication between the people and the government. It used to be headed by the Registrar General, who was also called the 'Protector of the Chinese'. In 1913 the department was called the Secretariat for...
Read More