Technical standards in colonial Hong Kong
Categories: Hong Kong-related stubs | Standards and measurement stubs | Hong Kong | History of Hong Kong | British rule in Hong Kong
This article gives readers an insight on how the British colonial rule affected the technical standards in Hong Kong. However, not all technical standards in Hong Kong are identical with their counterparts in the United Kingdom due to practical or some other reasons.
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Electrical plugs and adaptors
Relevant articles: Common electrical adaptors in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, Domestic AC power plugs and sockets, BS 1363 and Common electrical plug and socket problems in Hong Kong
Before the legislation of the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation in a few years before the handover in 1997, British standard extension cables, plugs and adaptors were seldom found in the market. Electrical appliances are fitted with 2-pin plugs and quasi-UK three pin plugs (that means they are compatible with BS 1363 or BS 546 sockets, but the plug itself does not comply to the British Standard).
After the enforcement of the regulation, many British standard electrical products are common in Hong Kong market. Some adaptors common in the United Kingdom are not available in Hong Kong. Conversely, local manufacturers develop adaptors for the Hong Kong market and they are not often sold in the UK.
One aspect worth noteing is some local manufacturers print the Union Jack on the plugs and extension cables, but these products are not manufactured or sold in the United Kingdom. This practice is not ceased even Hong Kong was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1997.
Electric sockets (wiring system)
Relevant article: BS 7671
Based on the adapted version of IEE Wiring Regulations, the colonial Hong Kong Government published Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulation in 90's. This book has been revised for a few times and the latest version was published in 2003.
One worth noticing aspect is that in Government buildings, public housing estates and Government-sponsored educational institutions, British electrical products (brands include Tenby and MK electric) are often used. However, these British electrical products are not very popular in the private sector. Australia-based Clipsal is the most popular brand in private buildings, and some Government buildings built after the handover of Hong Kong to PRC in 1997.
Telephone sockets
Before the handover of Hong Kong, all the domestic telephone sockets installed were BS 6312 ones but there was no stipulation on commercial telephone sockets. Both Registered Jack (RJ) and BS 6312 systems were (and are) found in commercial telephone installations.
After the handover, the Hong Kong Government started gradually replacing the BS 6312 sockets with American RJ ones. Service providers install RJ sockets, instead of BS 6312 ones, for clients in new installation, relocation or maintenance projects. Existing BS 6312 sockets before the handover are still in use and there is no compulsory replacement programme.
Computers
Keyboard layouts
Relevant articles: Keyboard layout, Chinese input methods for computers, British and American keyboards
In the Crown colony, United States and Chinese (Traditional) keyboards were utilized by both the colonial Hong Kong Government and the public. United Kingdom layout keyboards are rare (even not found) in computer malls in Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok. However, Japanese keyboards can be occasionally found in such computer malls (probably due to the influence of Japanese language culture in Hong Kong after the Second World War).
TV Broadcast
Analogue
Hong Kong uses the UK PAL-I broadcast system. See the article PAL.
Digital
See the article digital television. Until now, it is not clear that which standard will be adopted by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
DVD
In the UK DVDs are region 2, of PAL standard. However, even though Hong Kong is under control of the People's Republic of China, DVDs found here are not Region 6 (for users in the Mainland China). DVDs in Hong Kong are usually of region 3 (NTSC) (DVDs of region 1 (NTSC format) or region 2 (PAL) are also common in local shops like HMV), which is not an issue for the local market as DVD players commonly sold in the shops are multi-region.
See also
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