XN000022-1983-06-29 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983

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PLAN TO DEAL WITH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL ESTABLISH A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF

ENFORCING PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, FOLLOWING WHICH THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR JUSTIN YUE, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ON THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES IN 1978.

MR YUE EXPLAINED THAT THE STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES IN 1978 FOLLOWED A STUDY IN WHICH GOVERNMENT HAD CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD ITSELF NEED TO ACQUIRE SOME EXPERTISE IN THIS FIELD AS A FIRST STEP.

AN EXPERT WAS EMPLOYED IN NOVEMBER 1980 AND DETAILED STUDY AND DRAFTING CARRIED OUT, IN CONSULTATION WITH INTERNATIONAL BODIES AND ORGANISATIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

+AS A RESULT OF THIS PHASE OF THE WORK, GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED THAT SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE FAR REACHING EFFECTS ON THE EVERY DAY LIFE OF VIRTUALLY THE WHOLE POPULATION OF HONG KONG. TO TAKE A SINGLE EXAMPLE, THE WIDESPREAD USE OF THE CHING'S RAISED QUESTIONS AS TO HOW FAR ITS CONTINUED USE AND POSSIBLE STANDARD ISATION NEEDED TO BE ENVISAGED. HE SAID.

MR YUE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES CONSEQUENTLY DECIDED IN MARCH 1982 THAT AN APPROPRIATE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE CIRCULATED TO OBTAIN THE VIEWS AND COMMENTS OF DISTRICT BOARDS, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND THE RELEVANT TRADE AND INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS AND ADVISORY BODIES.

+THIS PROCESS WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF 1982, SHORTLY AFTER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SUBJECT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH TO THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH.

+THE UNDERLYING OBJECTIVES IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WERE WIDELY WELCOMED BY ALL CONCERNED, AND IT HAS BEEN GOVERNMENT'S TASK IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR TO SEEK TO TRANSLATE THOSE OBJECTIVES INTO CLEAR, WORKABLE AND ENFORCEABLE LEGISLATION,+ MR YUE SAID.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT SEEK TO PASS LEGISLATION UNTIL IT WAS FULLY ABLE TO ENFORCE IT.

*THE SORT OF PROPOSALS ENVISAGED WOULD REQUIRE A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF AND INEVITABLY REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT BY GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.

/IN REFLY