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INDUSTRY AND TRADE
The Consumer Council is a Council member of the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) and its Executive Director is the Chairman of the IOCU consumer Education Committee.
Trade in Endangered Species
The possession, importation and exportation of endangered species of animals and plants, including parts and certain derivatives, into and out of Hong Kong is strictly regulated by the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance which gives effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While the licensing policy allows legitimate trade in scheduled specimens, import licences may not be granted in certain cases to help the survival of a species. For example, there has been a total ban on the import into Hong Kong of rhino products of all species of Rhinocerotidae since 1979.
The ordinance is administered by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and is enforced by officers of the department and the Customs and Excise Department. The Trade Department is authorised to issue certificates for ivoryware carved in Hong Kong. Illegal trade is investigated and prosecutions follow if there is evidence of a breach of the ordinance. During 1984, there were 240 seizures and 85 prosecutions under the ordinance.
Metrication
In the field of metrication, the government's objective is to facilitate progressive adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in those areas for which it is responsible, and the positive encouragement of the use of metric (SI) units by the private sector. The Metrication Ordinance, enacted in 1976, provides for the eventual replacement of non- metric units by SI units in all legislation in Hong Kong.
A Metrication Committee, consisting of representatives of industry, commerce, con- sumer affairs and government officials appointed by the Governor, is the focal point of liaison on all matters concerning metrication. It advises and encourages various groups within the private sector in the framing of their metrication programmes. Partly through the efforts of the committee, public awareness of metrication has gradually increased and considerable progress has been made in the adoption of SI units particularly within the government and in some areas of the private sector.
Significant developments during the year included, in the public sector, a changeover in the units used for water charges from gallons to cubic metres with effect from April 1 and the metrication of road speed limits with effect from August 25. In the private sector, metrica- tion campaign activities were mainly consumer-oriented, stressing the reasons for the metric changeover and explaining the use of conversion factors. These activities included the production of promotional leaflets, posters, conversion cards, radio and television com- mercials, the staging of a territory-wide metric family lucky draw in April and the setting up of metric scale demonstration counters in major public markets throughout Hong Kong.
Trade Marks and Patents
Trade Marks are registered under the Trade Marks Ordinance, which is based on the United Kingdom Trade Marks Act 1938. The procedure is laid down in the Trade Marks Rules, and the prescribed forms may be obtained free from the Trade Marks Registry, Registrar General's Department. Every mark, even if already registered in Britain or any other country, must satisfy all the requirements of the Hong Kong Trade Marks Ordinance before it may be accepted for registration.