DECREE OF THE STATE COUNCIL CONCERNING THE USE OF UNIFORM LEGAL MEASURES IN THE COUNTRY

THE LEGAL MEASURES OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (see <

(Issued on February 27, 1984)

    Since the State Council issued the Decree Concerning the Unification of
the System of Measurement in 1959, which stipulates that the metric system
is the basic system of measurement in the country, remarkable achievements
have been made in promoting the metric system, reforming the Chinese market
system, restricting the British system and abolishing the old and mixed
systems in China. In order to implement the policy of opening up to the
outside world and invigorating the economy at home, meet the needs of
developing the national economy and cultural and educational undertakings,
promote the advancement of science and technology and broaden international
economic and cultural exchanges, the State Council has decided to further
unify the measures of the country on the basis of adopting the advanced
international system of measurement. The 21st Executive Meeting of the
State Council held on January 20, 1984 discussed and approved the following
documents submitted by the State Measurement Bureau: the Report Concerning
the Use of Uniform Legal Measures in the Country, the Suggestion Concerning
the full Application of the Country’s Legal Measures, and the Legal Measures
of the People’s Republic of China, The Decree is hereby issued:

    I. The Legal Measures of the People’s Republic of China (see the
Appendix) shall be adopted in any measurement in our country.

    II. The Chinese market system of measures currently in use in daily
commercial activities may remain applicable till the end of 1900, before
which the transition to the national legal measures must be completed. As
for the reform or farmland measures, a reform plan shall be drawn up and
promulgated separately on the basis of investigation and study.

    III. The reform of measures is a matter which concerns all walks of
life and broad masses of people. Leading cadres in the various localities
and departments must pay adequate attention to it and formulate vigorous and
reliable plans of implementation so as to ensure its successful completion.

    IV. The State Measurement Bureau shall be vested by this Decree with the
responsibility of the implementation thereof.

    This Decree shall go into effect from the date of issuance. If any
previous provisions come into conflict with this Decree, this Decree shall
prevail.

THE LEGAL MEASURES OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (see <REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED
MATTERS>>, China Legal System Publishing House, July, 1991, page 1231,
Volume II. — The Editor)