HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954
down by the steams. It is interesting to note that an elevation of the land by 100 feet would restore the strand line approximately to the 16 fathom line and make all Hong Kong and the New Territories an integral part of the mainland. Thus across wide alluvial plains the Pearl River would develop several distributaries to the sea. There would possibly be a small channel flowing between Hong Kong and Lantao island eastwards and a larger one passing close to the western end of Lan- tao island in a south-easterly direction.
Climate and Weather
The climate of Hong Kong is governed by the monsoons, and although the Colony lies just within the tropics it enjoys a variety of weather from season to season which is unusual in tropical regions. The north-east monsoon sets in during October and persists with occasional breaks until April, bringing cool air from higher latitudes. Early winter is the most pleasant time of year, for the weather is generally 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. Coastal fogs occur from time to time in early spring during breaks in the monsoon, when warm south-easterly winds may temporarily displace the cool north-easterlies.
The summer is the rainy season, three quarters of the average annual rainfall of 84.76 inches occurring during the period May to September. The south-west monsoon lasts from June to August, but is not so persistent as the north-east monsoon of winter. The weather during the summer is continuously hot and humid, and often cloudy and showery with occasional thunderstorms.
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