XN000022-1980-06-04 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1980

'GO METRIC DRIVE BEGINS

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THE METRICATION COMMITTEE TODAY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCHING OF A MASSIVE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THE USE OF METRIC UNITS.

PROF S.Y. KING, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOAL OF COMPLETE METRICATION IN HONG KONG MIGHT YET TAKE A FEW YEARS, HIS COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THAT IT WAS TIMELY TO CONDUCT A GENERAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

PUBLICITY MATERIAL PRODUCED FOR THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES A 30-MINUTE TV PROGRAMME, TELEVISION SHORT FILMS, RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS, POSTERS AND A METRIC HANDBOOK.

THE 30-MINUTE TV PROGRAMME, WHICH AIMS AT ENCOURAGING EDUCATORS TO ADOPT METRIC UNITS IN THEIR SYLLABUSES, IS EXPECTED TO BE SCREENED IN JULY THIS YEAR.

THE METRIC HANDBOOK IS IN THE FORM OF A WALLET CONTAINING THE FIRST THREE OF A SERIES OF INFORMATION LEAFLETS ON THE USE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM. THE THREE LEAFLETS — +EVERYDAY METRIC UNITS+ +MORE EVERYDAY METRIC UNITS+ AND WORKING IN METRIC+ USE ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES TO REMIND THE PUBLIC OF WHAT THEY PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW AND ALSO TO REASSURE THEM OF THEIR ALREADY ACQUIRED ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGE.

TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE METRIC SYSTEM, THE COMMITTEE HAS CONDUCTED TWO FACT-FINDING SURVEYS, ONE ON METRICATION IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND THE OTHER ON THE INROADS OF METRICATION IN THE CONSUMER SECTOR.

IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, PROF KING SAID, IT WAS FOUND THAT METRIC UNITS WERE ALREADY BEING WIDELY USED.

+THE COMMITMENT WAS GREATER IN ELECTRICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INDUSTRIES AND AMONG LARGER FIRMS, HE ADDED.

THE SURVEY ON THE CONSUMER INDUSTRY SHOWED THAT WHOLESALERS WERE ALREADY WELL INVOLVED WITH METRIC DIMENSIONED PRODUCTS AND THERE WAS ALREADY A SURPRISING POTENTIAL IN METRIC WEIGHING EQUIPMENT.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE WHOLESALING WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN METRIC UNITS WHILST RETAILING WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN NON-METRIC UNITS.

REFERRING TO THE BUILDING INDUSTRY, THE COMMITTEE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NOW LARGELY METRIC. THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS, IN FACT, NOT ACCEPTED ANY NON-METRIC DESIGNS SINCE APRIL 1977 AND THE PERIOD OF GRACE DURING WHICH PLANS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO APRIL 1977 COULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN NON-METRIC UNITS HAD ALREADY EXPIRED ON JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, THE TIMBER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS IS NOW PLANNING THE METRICATION OF RETAIL SALE OF TIMBER, AND THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF METRIC SIZED ELECTRIC CABLES IS ALSO WELL IN ADVANCE.

/REGARDING PETROL

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