TNAG-1619-FCO40-2228-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1987 — Page 140

I

RESTRICTED 內部文件

For discussion

on 14 April 1987

XCR (87)653

Copy No..

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

S нив aila

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL 1987 V...??

isb

<|=|

Introduction

The purpose of the memorandum is to seek Members' approval to the introduction into the Legislative Council of the Weights and Measures Bill 1987 (Annex A). A Chinese version of the Bill is at Annex B. This is to give effect to Members' decision on 11 November 1986 to begin the bilingual laws project by introducing a number of new substantive Bills into the Legislative Council in bilingual form by way of a "dummy run". The Bill will be printed and published in English and

English and Chinese but only the English text will be debated and passed into law.

2

The current Weights and Measures Ordinance (Chapter 51) was enacted in 1885 and last amended in 1937. It makes provision mainly for the keeping of Imperial and Chinese weights and measures standards, the verification and examination of weights and measures used in Hong Kong and the prohibition of the possession and use of any false and unjust weights and measures. The Ordinance fails to meet modern day requirements because

3

(a) It does not cover the metric system, on which all weights and measures standards should be based in accordance with most

(b)

practices

and

the

international Government's policy to adopt the metric system in Hong Kong.

are

For the

Its provisions regarding enforcement both inappropriate and ineffective. example, neither the Treasury nor Police have the capability and appropriate organisational structure to carry out the functions of keeping reference standards for weights and measures and their copies for comparison purposes as required under the existing Ordinance.

The Secretary for Trade and Industry considers it necessary that Hong Kong should have a modern legal framework defining the standards

standards for weights and measures for use for trade which is equitable as well as compatible with international practices because :

G.F. 324

RESTRICTED 內部文件