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ROYAL OBSERVATORY
105° and 125° east, six-hourly and often three-hourly non-local warnings are issued. These include information on the storm's intensity and expected development, the position and movement of its centre and the forecast position for 24 hours ahead. Reliable reports from ships and reconnaissance aircraft help to locate the storms accurately. When the Colony itself is threatened the local storm warning system is brought into use and warnings are widely distributed by means of visual signals, telephones and radio. While gale signals are hoisted, statements are issued every hour and broad- cast at frequent intervals.
Time signals from the observatory are broadcast by Radio Hong Kong and included in special broadcasts for shipping. A visual time signal is flashed from the observatory signal mast from 8.55 p.m. until 9.00 p.m.
The observatory operates 12 seismometers, distributing weekly and monthly reports, and also participates in the Pacific Tidal Wave Warning Service. Hong Kong lies some distance away from the circum-Pacific seismic belt and serious earthquakes are almost unknown. However in most years a few tremors can just be felt by people in favourable locations. During 1964 there were six of these. The general level of radioactivity in the Colony is monitored by routine measurements of the beta-activity of fallout, airborne particles near the ground, rainfall and ordinary tap water.
THE YEAR'S WEATHER
In 1964 a record number of five typhoons caused gales in Hong Kong. In addition there were five other storms for which local storm signals were hoisted. Local storm signals were hoisted for a record total of 570 hours during the year. This compares with the previous record year, 1960, when signals were hoisted for 432 hours to warn of nine storms. Apart from the typhoons, the weather during the year showed few departures from normal.
At the beginning of the year the Colony was desperately short of water and January 1964 was welcomed as the first month for more than a year in which rainfall was above average. A violent cold front on 23rd January caused thunder-storms and sudden squalls which capsized five trawlers. The water emergency con- tinued however as February, March and April were all comparatively
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