TNAG-0675-FCO40-824-Legislation-on-interpretation-and-general-clauses-of-laws-of-1978 — Page 33

A

1

For discussion

on 1st June 1976

ANNEX A TO XCR(77)26

XCR(76)104

Copy No..

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

REVIEW OF THE TIME SYSTEM IN HONG KONG

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES

PRET

(AMENDMENT) BILL 1976

and sunete.

Background

"OW

On 17th June 1975, having considered memorandum XCR(75)114, a copy of which is attached at Annex A, the Council...; ·⠀ advised and the Governor ordered:

(a)

that the present dual time system of Summer Time (GMT + 9) and Standard Time (GMT + 8) should be retained; and

(b) that a further report should be made to this

Council within one year.

The review

2

The available data on this question and the arguments for and against maintaining the present dual time system, or sub- stituting a permanent standard time or a permanent summer time, were fully set out in paragraphs 7-14 of the memorandum at Annex A. Since that time the basic facts and arguments have not altered, with the exception that there now seems to be, on balance, a stronger preference for a fixed time system as opposed to a dual time system and a some- what stronger preference than previously that this should be based on standard time (GMT+8) rather than summer time (GMT + 9).

3

In order to detect possible changes in public opinion on this issue since last year, the Secretary for Home Affairs and the Secretary for the New Territories were requested to provide up-to- date assessments. The Secretary for the New Territories has advised that public opinion in the New Territories has remained virtually unchanged since the last review. Support for a fixed time system and a dual time system was almost equally divided, although a large proportion of those who now favour a permanent time system would prefer GMT +8.