HONGKONG STORM SIGNAL CODES
Storm Warnings are issued by the Royal Observatory, Hongkong, by means of Local and fon-Local Storm Signal Codes. The Local Code is as follows:-
fignal. Symbol.
DAY SIGNALS.
Meaning.
1.-Red cone.-A typhoon exists which may possibly cause a gale at Hongkong within 24 hours, 2.- Black cone.-
Gale expected from the North (N.W. to N.E.)
3.— Black cone inverted.- 4.—Black drum.-
5.-Black ball.-
""
22
3)
South (S.E. to S.W.)
"
East (N.E. to S.E.)
29
West (N.W. to S.W.)
دو
وو
وو
دو
25
6.-Double cone.-Gale expected to increase,
7.- Black cross.-Wind of typhoon force expected (any direction).
Signal No. 7 is accompanied by thrco explosive bombs fired, at intervals of 10 seconds, at he Water Police Station and repeated at the Harbour Office.
1
The signals are lowered when it is considered that all danger is over, The Day Signals are displayed at the following places:-
Royal Observatory. Harbour Office. H M.S. Tamar. Green Island. Gough Hill.
H'kong. & K'loon. Wharf & Godown Co., Kowloon. Standard Oil Co., Lai-chi-kok.
Field Officer's Quarters, Lyemun. NIGHT SIGNALS. (Lamps.) Green
Green 3 White 4 Green
White
White
White
White White 22 Green White The Night Signals are displayed, at sunset, at the following places:-
Green
White 52 White Green
Green 62 Green Green
Red 7 Green
Red
Gough Hill.
Royal Observatory. Harbour Office. Railway Station. H.M.S. Tamar. They have the same signification as the day signals. Signal No. 7 is accompanied by explosive bombs as above, in the event of the information conveyed by this signal being first published at night.
A translation of both Day and Night Signals is displayed at the General Post Office and at the Upper Tram Station.
SUPPLEMENTARY WARNINGS.
When local signals are displayed in the Harbour a Cone will be exhibited at the following stations:-
Gap Rock Waglan
Stanley Aberdeen
Sau Ki Wan Sai Kung
Sha Tau Kok Tai Po
Further details can always be given to ocean vessels, on deinand, by signal from lighthouses, or by wireless telegra by,
The object of the code is to give at least 24 hours' warning of a gale (Force 8 by Beaufort Scale, or 40-45 m.p.h., mean velocity by Dines Anemometer) and also warnings of expected changes in the direction and force of the wind. Owing, however, to the uncertain niovements of typhoons, and to insufficient telegraphic observations, it will occasionally happen that signals 2 to 5 may be displayed without a gale occurring at Hongkong, or even at Gap Kock, but the reverse is not likely to happen, except in the case of typhoons forming in the vicinity and travelling rapidly towards Hongkong, or of a located typhoon increasing its rate of progression abnormally.
Signal No. I is intended as a warning to "Stand By" and watch for the next signal. When it is hoisted after a black signal has been displayed it will mean that, on account of a change in the track of the typhoon, or for some other reason, a gale is no longer expected from the direction indicated by the last signal, and that another black signal may possibly bo hoisted later,
NON-LOCAL SIGNALS.
The Non-Local, or "China Seas" Code of Storm Signals gives the latitude and longitude of the storm centre, its direction of motion, and a signal indicating the degree of accuracy with which it is believed the position of the centre has been located. A signal giving the time at which the warning was issued is hoisted at the mast-head.
Copies of the code may be obtained on application to the Observatory.
HONGKONG TIME SIGNALS.
The Time Ball on Kowloon Signal Hill is dropped daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., except on Saturdays whon it is dropped at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and on Sundays and Holidays when it is dropped at 10a.m. only,
The Ball is hoisted half-mast at the 55th minute and full mast at the 57th minute, Should the ball fail to drop at the correct time it will be lowered at 5 minutes past the hour and the ordinary routine repeated at the following hour, if possible,
Should the Time Ball be out of order, the above routine will be carried out with the flag "Z" on the Storm Signal mast. •
Time Signals are also given at night by means of three white lamps mounted vertically on the Observatory wireless mast. From 8h 55m 0 to 9h 0m 0 p.m. the lamps are extinguished momentarily every second, except at the 28th, 29th and 54th to 59th. second of each minute.
The hours refer to Hongkong Standard Time (8 hours East of Greenwich). ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONGKONG.
T. F. CLAXTON, Director.