HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953
island. The rest of the islands are much smaller, and range in character from the thickly-populated Cheung Chau with its large fishing community, soy factory and junk-building yards, to an island only 8 acres large (Ngai Ying Chau) until recently occupied by a single family.
Climate
Although Hong Kong lies just within the tropics, it enjoys a variety of weather unusual in tropical regions. Seasonal changes are well-marked owing to the influence of the monsoons. The north-east monsoon sets in during October and persists until April, and in early winter the weather is generally cool, dry and sunny. After the New Year the sky is more often clouded, though rainfall remains slight; dull overcast days with a chilly wind are frequent. From time to time in early spring warm south-easterly winds may temporarily displace the cool north-east monsoon; fog is likely under these conditions.
Although the south-west monsoon of summer is not so persistent as the north-easterlies of winter, from May until September the air reaching Hong Kong has generally travelled from warm tropical seas to the east and south of the Colony. The weather is persistently hot and humid, and often cloudy and showery with occasional thunderstorms. The rainy season. lasts from May to September, three-quarters of the average annual rainfall of 84.76 inches occurring during this period.
The mean monthly temperature varies from 59°F in February to 82°F in July, the average for the year being 72°F. The temperature rarely rises above 95°F, or falls below 40°F. The mean relative humidity exceeds 80% from March until August, but in the early winter it may fall as low as 20%. The average monthly duration of sunshine ranges from 95 hours in March to 217 hours in October.
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