ENG-1983 — Page 63

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INDUSTRY AND TRADE

and community organisations, and with schools and the Education Department, in a continual effort to make people aware of their rights - and responsibilities - as consumers. A comprehensive consumer rights publicity campaign will be launched in March 1984.

The Consumer Council is a council member of the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) and its Executive Director is the Chairman of the IOCU Consumer Education Committee.

Trade in Endangered Species

The possession, importation and exportation of endangered species of animals and plants, including parts and certain derivatives into and out of Hong Kong is strictly regulated by the Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance which gives effect to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While the licensing policy allows legitimate trade in scheduled specimens, import licences may not be granted in certain cases to help the survival of a species. For example, there has been a total ban on the import into Hong Kong of rhino products of all species of Rhinocerotidae since 1979.

The ordinance is administered by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and is enforced by officers of the department and the Customs and Excise Department. The Trade Department is authorised to issue certificates for ivoryware carved in Hong Kong. Illegal trade is investigated and prosecutions follow if there is evidence of a breach of the ordinance. During 1983, there were 167 seizures and 52 prosecutions under the ordinance.

Metrication

In the field of metrication, the government's objective is to facilitate progressive adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in those areas for which it is responsible, and the positive encouragement of the use of metric units by the private sector. The Metrication Ordinance, enacted in 1976, provides for the eventual replacement of non-metric units by SI in all legislation in Hong Kong.

A Metrication Committee, consisting of representatives of industry, commerce, manage- ment and consumer affairs and government officials appointed by the Governor, is the focal point of liaison on all matters concerning metrication. It advises and encourages various groups within the private sector in the formulation of their programmes for metrication. In recent years, there has been increased public awareness of the topic and progress has been made in the adoption of SI particularly within the government and in specific areas of the private sector.

Most government departments including the Royal Observatory, the Post Office and the Building Development, Engineering Development, Urban Services, Government Supplies, Rating and Valuation and Education Departments are now using metric units exclusively. All other government departments are well advanced in their implementation programmes In the private sector, a continuing effort was made in the field of publicity and public education. In addition to the production of promotional leaflets, posters and radio and television commercials, a territory-wide 10-day metric public awareness and participation programme, with a variety of events, was conducted in January. The clothing industry began its metric conversion in March, with a transitional dual-labelling period in prepara- tion for a complete changeover by early 1984; the transitional changeover period for the piece goods and the tailoring industries was extended to the end of 1983; the electrical wires and cables industry conversion programme commenced in September and is scheduled for completion by June 1984; and the programme to encourage the use of metric units in the