allegiances with U.K.-based organisa- tions. In about 12 months time every- thing that they do, say and publish for their members, including their ex- aminations, will be in metric measure.
The continued need to supply com- ponents in the old terms so as to main- tain and repair existing property will, of course, have to be taken into ac- count in Hong Kong as elsewhere. This is not a new problem for the industry however, and, because of the scale, nature, and pace of development, it will be a more rapidly diminishing one here, than in many other places, and should pose few difficulties.
How to change
Learning the use of metric instru- ments and units of measure should offer no difficulties at all because of their inherent simplicity. Very many in the industry however will need to acquire metric data as a part of their thinking in order to build up a mental picture of a new dimensional environ- ment, and, educationally, this will be more problematical (4). Assimilation of the new process can only be gradual and requires time.
change, or not to change at all, then the incorporation of M.M.C. alongside the local system will be done over a shorter period of say two years instead of the three years proposed.
This sort of expensive compromise would be necessary in most institutions, for many of them have important in- ternational ties and obligations, espec- ially concerning standards and recogni- tion, which mean that they could not continue to teach only in local terms, unless these correspond to the major international ones. Additional resources (staff, books, equipment etc.) would normally only be required during the changeover period, but if local practice differs from that prevailing in the U.K. and elsewhere, then such extra re- sources would always be needed.
In a well-planned, properly-timed, full changeover, these temporary ad- ditional requirements are not likely to be very great. Text and reference books, maps and other building litera- ture will be one of the things affected. For example, it is reliably estimated that about 95 per cent of the existing stock of books on the technical as pects of building will be reprinted in metric during the next three years. Allowing for the normal appearance of new editions and replacements, this means that about 40 per cent of the industry's books will need replacing or supplementing, during the change.
For new entrants the problems will not be exceptional, but for those al- ready in the industry, special short re-training courses at intervals will be necessary. During the period of change over it is not going to be particularly easy for those who must learn to work and think in the new terms and teach in them too. U.K. evidence points to Chart I an under-estimation of the problems of the changeover in education.
Similarly, measuring and other equipment and instruments will need to be metrically calibrated, and much of the existing stock will need replac- ing more quickly than would normally be the case due to wear and tear or loss. Additional temporary staffing in the industry may also be required, but only if the change is made in a very short period of time, or if substantial assistance with retraining courses is needed.
When to change
Working to M.M.C., in practice, in U.K., starts in less than six months time, and the changes involved are phased over three or four year periods. The results of the one or two years of preparatory work, in the form of basic M.M.C. data, Standards and other technical literature, is already reaching Hong Kong, and M.M.C., components will begin to arrive in the latter half of 1970!
It follows that, if the advantages of adopting the change in the building industry here are not to be lost or wasted, it is imperative for the H.K. Government together with the industry to draw up a controlling programme - perhaps on the lines that I have suggest- ed in Chart 1 below - now. This should then be published promptly and ad- hered to throughout.
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CHANGE IN HONGKONG'S BUILDING INDUSTRY COMPLETE
SUGGESTED CHANGEOVER PROGRAMME FOR HONGKONG'S BUILDING INDUSTRY.
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The task of the local building edu- cation institutions, on whom much of the burden of this work will fall, is the same as that of the industry of which they are part. The Department of and published - Autumn 1969.
PROGRAMME – To be prepared by B.I.M.P. and published – Easter 1969.
Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, for example, is the only local institution educating the designers of buildings architects to internation- ally accepted standards for this indus- try and, as has been explained, it is in a key position regarding the change.
J
GUIDE (dual language) To be prepared by B.I.M.P.
EDUCATION - Building education
establishments change curricula and teaching to metric
PUBLICATIONS
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Official and Trade:
Books and other Technical literature available
RETRAINING - In-industry Courses available for local personnel
DIMENSIONS – Controlling sizes prepared
EQUIPMENT and instruments available in metric calibration
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DESIGN Architects; Engineers and Q.S's etc., produce all new work in metric
The Department of Civil Engineer- by B.I.M.P. for publication from Easter 1970 ing at the University, and the Depart- ment of Building, Surveying & Struc- tural Engineering at the Hong Kong Technical College, together with the technical schools, are others that are closely involved. With the need for edu- cation to precede practice, it has, in some instances, been thought advisable to commence some teaching in M.M.C. terms now.
Should the H.K. Government de- cide against a full change, and make the retrogressive decision to only partly
STANDARDS - Full M.M.C. Standards available and in force
COMPONENTS – Full M,M,C. products and components available
PRODUCTION - Contractors and Sub-contractors construct and work in metric on site
Key
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Changeover and Preparatory. Full M.M.C. operating.
UK. change to decimal currency
TODAY
1968
1969
1970
1971
UK. bulk of change in Building Industry complete
UK. change to metric in ALL industries complete
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
Far East BUILDER, October 1968.
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