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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 29TH AUGUST, 1896.
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The centre of the depression, which remained of slight intensity, passed very near Hoihow between 9 p. of the 25th and 9 a. of the 26th. They experienced frequent heavy rainsqualls during the night, the wind direction changing from NE on the evening of the 25th to S on the morning of the 26th with barometer at 11 a. 29.46 and thereafter rising. Nearly 10 inches of rain fell during the 48 hours ending at 9 a. on the 26th. At Pakhoi, on the 26th, moderate and fresh N and NNW breezes accom- panied by heavy rain prevailed, the barometer reading 29.50 at 9 a. and 29.43 at 3 p. so that the Fresh centre was situated between these two stations at noon on the 26th and in about 20°, 119°2. to strong breezes from SE to SW prevailed at sea between Hongkong and the SE coast of Hainan. After passing near Pakhoi the depression probably quickly filled up on the mainland.
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On the 27th at 11.15 a. "The barometer has risen considerably on the S coast of China andin Fore- the Gulf of Tongking, elsewhere changes are slight. Pressure remains low in the South."
"moderate or light SE winds; unsettled, wet.”
cast:-
On the 28th at 10.20 a. Red Drum hoisted. "Typhoon crossing North Luzon apparently moving towards NW." At 11.15 a. A rapid fall of the mercury has occurred at Bolinao since yesterday and the barometer has also fallen decidedly at the Formosa Channel stations. The weather seems likely to become unsettled in the latter district shortly." Forecast:--"light or moderate winds, E backing towards N; showery with fine intervals.”
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On the 29th at 8.45 a. Black Drum hoisted. At 9.5 a. Gun fired one round. At 10.30 a. Typhoon centre about 250 miles to the SE of Hongkong moving towards WNW. Strong NE to SE gale expected here." Black South Cone hoisted.
On the 29th at 4.10 p. The typhoon will probably pass close to Gap Rock." At 5.45 p. Gun fired two rounds. At 10 p. the wind velocity was 108 miles per hour from East. On the 30th at daylight, Black Ball hoisted. At 11.20 a. The typhoon has entered the coast near Macao." Forecast:-"decreasing SE winds; squally and showery.'
On the 30th at 5.10 p. Black Ball lowered. On the 31st at 11.15 a. "In Hongkong pressure now exceeds the normal by 0.1 inch, the mercary having continued to rise rapidly during the past 24 · hours. Gradients are rather steep between Hongkong and the Gulf of Tongking, the barometer in the latter district, although rising, being still comparatively low." Forecast moderate SE winds; squally and showery."
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Pressure, which had not yet reached its norinal height in Luzon on the 26th, again commenced to give way there on the 27th. The barometer, 29.70, at the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's The S. S. Station at Bolinao fell quickly during the evening, but light airs and calms prevailed. Sungkiang, lying in Mariveles Bay (14° 26', 120° 30′) had light increasing W winds with falling barometer. There is no information from the Pacific, but these observations point to a depression to the E of Luzon, advancing in a W direction probably in about 17° Lat. The following conditions prevailed in other areas: in S Japan, the highest pressure of 29.8 ins. and upwards; Sharp Peak 29.75, Hongkong 29.70, with a second low pressure of about 29.6 ins. over Tongking and the Gulf. Between Foochow and S Hainan winds were light and moderate from E to SE, except strong NE breezes with falling barometer at Anping, S Formosa, while moderate SW monsoon prevailed across the China Sea in 16° Lat. increasing in strength in 10°, 110° where the barometer read about 29.70.
On the morning of the 28th the disturbance was crossing N Luzon, the centre being situated near 18° 30′, 121° 00' at noon. At Bolinao, barometer 9 a. 29.55, 4 p. 29.42 (minimum), moderate to strong W breezes blew in the morning backing to SW in the afternoon, accompanied by wet weather Pressure remained highest throughout. The Sungkiang, at Mariveles, had 29.65 with SW 4 at noon. at 29.8 and upwards in S Japan. Increasing NE breezes blew at the lighthouse stations in the S part of the Formosa Channel during the evening, but between Hongkong and Hainan light E breezes prevailed. The S.S. Apenrade and the bark Lothair some 300 miles to the WNW of the centre at noon and both bound to Hongkong, had fresh increasing breezes from NE backing to N in the evening. The barometer which read 29.61 on board the Apenrade at noon, was falling, as the disturb- The S.S. Memnon and the bark Casablanca ance was following in her wake and overtaking her.
Both vessels were bound to Hongkong. were about 270 miles to the WSW of the centre at noon. They experienced only light breezes from NW to W before noon, but later the barometer fell rapidly and the wind increased to a moderate gale from NW and WNW. On board the Mennon a very heavy cloud bank was observed in the NE. As their course was taken them towards the centre it was Between 16° and 18° Lat. and in 114° Long, light altered, at first to WNW and afterwards to S. variable winds prevailed, farther South moderate to strong SW monsoon with the barometer reading 29.70 in 11°, 110°. The isobars appear to have been oval-shaped, the longer diameter lying in the direction of advance of the disturbance or approximately in an E and W direction.
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