XN000022-1980-08-06 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1980

14

METRIC PROGRAMME

****

THE METRICATION COMMITTEE HAS EMBARKED ON A PROGRAMME TO ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION AND DISSEMINATION OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE METRIC SYSTEM - LE SYSTEME INTERNATIONALE (SI), THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PROFESSOR S.Y. KING, WAS RESPONSIBLE, THROUGH MASS MEDIA INCLUDING POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND TELEVISION, TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO ADOPT METRIC UNITS.

+THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO INVOLVING PARTICULAR SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY IN EFFORTS TO PROMOTE S.I.,+ HE ADDED.

+AT PRESENT, TWENTY-FOUR SECTORS ARE INVOLVED RANGING FROM CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS TO HAWKERS AND HOUSEWIVES,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS INCREASED

****

PENSIONS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, INCLUDING THOSE UNDER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION SCHEME AND THE WIDOW'S AND CHILDREN'S PENSIONS SCHEME, WILL BE INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT,

SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT PENSIONS IN PAYMENT ON JULY 1, 1980, INCLUDING PREVIOUS INCREASES ALREADY APPROVED, WILL BE INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT FROM OCTOBER 1.

HE SAID THE COST OF THE ADJUSTMENTS WAS ESTIMATED AT $14.91 MILLION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND $29.82 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR.

THE INCREASE WAS BASED ON THE JULY 1, 1979-JUNE 30, 1980 MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) WHICH ROSE BY 20 POINTS (15.34 PER CENT).

/15