XN000022-1981-11-25 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1981

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'METRIC SYSTEM NOW MORE WIDELY USED HERE

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EFFORTS TO HAVE THE METRIC SYSTEM MORE CORRECTLY THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS USED IN HONG KONG ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS RATHER THAN BY LAW HAVE PRODUCED EXCELLENT RESULTS, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRÉSON, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THIS WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH PLACING EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION, PERSUASION AND PUBLICITY, HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON ANDREW SO ON THE PROGRESS MADE IN ENCOURAGING THE ADOPTION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT A METRICATION COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN JANUARY 1978 TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS RATHER THAN BY LAW.

IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ALL PROJECTS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL ENGINEERING MUST NOW BE SPECIFIED, AND MOST ARE EXECUTED,

IN THE METRIC SYSTEM.

WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SERVICES, THE PETROL COMPANIES AND THE POWER COMPANIES HAVE ADOPTED THE METRIC SYSTEM WHILE THE GAS COMPANY IS LOOKING INTO IT.

IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THOSE PRODUCING SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, OPTICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, TOBACCO, PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND PAINTS ARE NOW USING THE METRIC SYSTEM.

+FOR THE REMAINDER, ONE PROBLEM IS THAT HONG KONG CANNOT ADOPT THE SYSTEM WITHOUT REGARD TO THE UNITS USED BY ITS TRADING PARTNERS,+ HE SAID, +BUT THE COMMITTEE EXPECTS THAT MOST

INDUSTRIES WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE METRIC SYSTEM BY 1985.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES PRESENTED IN MANY RESPECTS MORE DIFFICULTIES THAN INDUSTRY UNDER A SYSTEM OF PERSUASION RATHER THAN OF LAW,

NEVERTHELESS MANY OUTLETS FOR CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES WILL BE USING THE METRIC SYSTEM BY THE END OF 1983.

IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, 15 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE EFFECTIVELY ADOPTED THE METRIC SYSTEM. THEY ARE EDUCATION, PUBLIC WORKS, ROYAL OBSERVATORY, POST OFFICE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, CIVIL AVIATION, GOVERNMENT LABORATORY, HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, KOWLOON- CANTON RAILWAY, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, RATING AND VALUATION, CENSUS AND STATISTICS, URBAN SERVICES AND PRISONS.

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PLANS ARE WELL ADVANCED FOR FOUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS FIRE SERVICES, MARINE, TRANSPORT AND TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS TO IMPLEMENT COMPLETELY THE METRIC SYSTEM BY 1983.

MR JEAFFRESON NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WAS NOT YET ABLE TO ADOPT THE METRIC SYSTEM, AND THAT MUCH OF

ITS PROGRESS WILL DEPEND ON THE UNITS USED BY THE SOURCES OF PURCHASES.

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