ENG-1972 — Page 295

214

Appendix I

Units of Measurement

Chinese, metric and British Imperial units are all in common use in Hong Kong. The Chinese units in the table below are those which have statutory equivalents in Hong Kong.

In China the standard size of the chek (Chinese foot) increased through the three millennia from the Chou period, and in practice the size also varied according to locality and the trade in which the unit was used. In Hong Kong the variation with usage still persists but the tabulated values are based on the statutory equivalent for the chek of 14 inches.

In the past, the values used in China for the units of mass have varied according to locality. The tabulated values are those in general use in Hong Kong and are in accord with the present statutory equivalent for the leung (tael) of 14 ounce.

Length

10 fan

Chinese Units

Equivalents

Metric (SI)

British ~(Imperial)

1 tsün (Chinese inch)

37.147 5

mm

1.462 5 in

10 tsün

= 1 chek (Chinese foot)

0.371 475 m

1.218 75 ft

Mass

三

10 fan (candareen)

= 1 tsin (mace)

3.779 94 g

58.333 3 gr

10 tsin

= 1 leung (tael)

37.799 4

g

1.333 33 oz

16 leung

= 1 kan (catty)

0.604 790 kg

1.333 33 lb

100 kan

1 tam (picul)

60.479 0

kg

1.190 48 cwt

The conversion factors are printed in bold type when they are expressed exactly. Not more than six significant figures are used.