The Secretariat

The Secretariat was the hub of government administration. It was located on the waterfront, a short walk across the recreation ground from The Prince of Wales Crescent, in Steamer Point, with an outlook to Quarantine Island.

Later the Crescent Hotel would be built next to it, over the site of former tennis courts. A building of very similar architecture was the Bank of India building in Steamer Point.

Workers detailed from the Secretariat were called 'Lascars', who might in more modern terms be called 'municipal workers'. Old maps refer to 'Lascars Lines', which are the accommodation blocks for the lascars.