HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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scales. Action is in hand to procure the necessary number of such scales and these should be available for use within the next two months or so.
MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):-I have 5 follow-up questions. The first one is whether the list of these 36 UC markets can be provided to us after the meeting?
Secondly, what are the units of measure used for market scales, kilograms, pounds or Chinese catties?
Thirdly, is the use of Chinese catties as units of measures more suitable for housewives?
Fourthly, have we considered how to increase the public's awareness of the use of kilograms?
Fifthly, are there notices at conspicuous places near market scales to inform the public of the complaint hotline operated by Customs and Excise Department and to keep the public aware of the complaint channels?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—As to the first question on providing a list of the 36 markets, the answer is yes. If Members are interested, I can supply the list to you after the meeting.
The second question on the units of measure used for market scales, as far as I know, kilograms are the units. We are not using Chinese catties or pounds as units because we are the ones who promoted the metric system.
I have already answered question 3. I mean we will not keep Chinese catties as units of measures for the convenience of housewives. As for increasing knowledge of the metric system, I believe everything will become clearer once "metric scales" are in use.
As to whether there are telephones for complaints provided in the vicinity of market scales or at conspicuous spots, I can tell Mr. Lai that the answer is yes. In fact, if someone cheats on weighing goods at the markets, complaints should be taken to the Customs and Excise Department, not the Urban Council. That is a point I must clarify.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):-Many goods sold in the markets are not based on metric units, but on catties and taels. There are 16 taels in a catty. If you look at the 10-50 times metric scales are used by citizens, it is on the low side. I wonder if the above situation explains why citizens seldom use the metric scales.
Secondly, I wonder if market scales have been discovered damaged by the public. No one mans the scales to keep them from being damaged and to ensure their accuracy. How can we go about avoiding unnecessary disputes caused by complaints from market tenants?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
35
scales. Action is in hand to procure the necessary number of such scales and these should be available for use within the next two months or so.
MR. ALBERT Lai Wing-Lin (in Cantonese):-I have 5 follow-up questions. The first one is the list of these 36 UC markets be provided to us after the meeting?
Secondly, what are the units of measure used for market scales, Kilograms, pounds or Chinese catties?
Thirdly, is the use of Chinese catties as units of measures more suitable for housewives?
Fourthly, have we considered how to increase the public's awareness of the use of kilograms?
Fifthly, are there notices at conspicuous places near market scales to inform the public of the complaint hotline operated by Customs and Excise Department and to keep the public aware of the complaint channels?
MR. IP Kwok-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—As to the first question on providing a list of the 36 markets, the answer is yes. If Members are interested, I can supply the list to you after the meeting.
The second question on the units of measure used for market scales, as far as I know, kilograms are the units. We are not using Chinese catties or pounds as units because we are the ones who promoted the metric system.
I have already answered question 3. I mean we will not keep Chinese catties as units of measures for the convenience of housewives. As for increasing knowledge of the metric system, I believe everything will become clearer once "metric scales" are in use.
As to whether there are telephones for complaints provided in the vicinity of market scales or at conspicuous spots, I can tell Mr. Lai that the answer is yes. In fact, if someone cheats on weighing goods at the markets, complaints should be taken to the Customs and Excise Department, not the Urban Council. That is a point I must clarify.
THE HON. LI Wah-ming (in Cantonese):-Many goods sold in the markets are not based on metric units, but on catties and pounds. There are 16 taels in the catty. If you look at the 10-50 times metric scales are used by citizens, it is on the low side. I wonder if the above situation explains why citizens seldom use the metric scales.
Secondly, I wonder if market scales have been discovered damaged by the public. No one mans the scules to keep them from being damaged and to ensure their accuracy. How can we go about avoiding unnecessary disputes caused by complaints from market tenants?
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