The Metrication Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules) Order 2019 was gazetted today (November 22).

     The Order, made pursuant to section 4 of the Metrication Ordinance (Cap. 214), seeks to amend the Schedules to the Ordinance to give effect to the newly revised International System of Units (SI), thereby aligning the measurement system of Hong Kong with the international measurement system.

     The SI is the metric system of measurement that has been adopted by most economies, including Hong Kong. In November 2018, the 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures passed a resolution to redefine four SI base units, namely the kilogram, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole. The objective of the revision is to guarantee the stability and universality of the units by linking them to fundamental physical constants. The revision is purely technical in nature with very little impact on the general public.

     The Order will be tabled before the Legislative Council on November 27. Subject to the negative vetting of the Legislative Council, it will come into effect on April 1, 2020.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 22) that due to special circumstances which happened nearby, the Tsim Sha Tsui Public Library, the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Science Museum in Yau Tsim Mong District are closed until further notice to ensure the safety of venue users and staff members. The department will closely monitor the situation and announce venue arrangements in a timely manner.

     Subject to the situation, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same district and any other districts which may be affected will also be closed early and at short notice to ensure the safety of venue users. Members of the public who plan to go to those venues are advised to contact the venues concerned or call 1823 in advance.

     The Government gazetted the results for the Rural By-election today (November 22). Two Indigenous Inhabitant Representative candidates and five Resident Representative candidates have been elected uncontested in the Rural By-election.
      
     The following candidates have been declared as being duly elected as Rural Representatives in the Rural By-election concerned:
 

     No valid nomination was received for the Resident Representative vacancies of Hoi Pong Street and Pak Sha O.
      
     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or visit the Rural Representative Election website (www.had.gov.hk/rre).

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 22) that the shark prevention net at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, has been repaired and the beach has been reopened.

     The beach was temporarily closed earlier on for shark prevention net maintenance work.

     However, due to big waves, the red flag is still hoisted at the beach. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 22) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.