nevertheless be required to extend in diminishing form for several more years.
2.47
The year 1972/73 heralded the initiation of the programme; particularly in respect of Stage 1.
2.48
The period 1973/74 saw further and more intensive development and in Stage 1 an expenditure of $344,000.00 was committed by way of procurement of metric equipment, machines, drawing implements, scales, aids, conversion tables, the printing of induction course notes, displays and metric instruction. In Stage II a general induction course was carried out at professional and technician level throughout the Department and selective courses were given within the Structural & Civil Engineering and Electrical & Mechanical disciplines. Stage III was initiated within certain departments who commenced design procedures using S.I. units and design criteria. All departments report generally that they are maintaining their respective programmes although inevitably some departments fail in details to meet their programme whilst others may be ahead; it is not expected that any of these divergences from the programme will lead to serious consequences by way of retardment of metrication within the Department.
2.49
One important aspect of the P.W.D. metrication programme within the current period was the issue by B.O.O. of a practice note, together with a Schedule of Metric Equivalents, to enable Authorized Persons to submit proposals in metric terminology as from 1st January 1976.
2.50
The Metrication Executive Unit has been actively involved, in close collaboration with Legal Department, in the preparation of the draft enabling legislation which will allow for the replacement, in the Laws of Hong Kong, of non-metric units by metric units (S.I.) and for H.E. the Governor to place before the Legislative Council such other legislation as may from time to time become necessary to make metrication effective.
2.51
The Unit has largely influenced the Colonial Secretariat in the preparation, for placing before the Legislative Council, of submissions which if accepted will establish a body equivalent to the Metrication Board in the United Kingdom, a body which will be responsible for the induction of metric working throughout Government and the various segments of the private sector.
2.52 The Unit is represented in the working party charged with preparing draft proposals for a new Weights and Measures Ordinance and advises particularly on those aspects concerning metrology.
2.53 The Unit provides information on metrication matters to other government Departments and to the private sector and with the approval of the Director of Public Works is represented on the Metrication Sub-Committee of Hong Kong Institute of Architects. The Metrication Officer took a leading role in a working party set up by the Hong Kong Polytechnic and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries to sponsor a Metrication Exhibition in January 1976.
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