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ROYAL OBSERVATORY
Altogether 1,336 squatter huts and 400 fishing boats were damaged or destroyed. Winds exceeded hurricane force for nearly three and a half hours at one spot. Gusts of 145 knots were recorded at Tate's Cairn and 122 knots at the observatory. As the centre passed, the winds changed direction rather suddenly from north-east to south- south-east.
The Urban Services were still clearing an estimated 10,000 tons of debris from the streets, as typhoon Sally approached the Colony on a course very similar to Ruby's. It altered course slightly and much of its energy was spent on the coast to the east of Hong Kong. The centre passed about 30 miles north-east of Hong Kong at about 11 p.m. on 10th September, and although there was serious damage in Kwangtung, gales only lasted for 40 minutes at the observatory and the only serious damage was caused by the heavy rain. A single large boulder, loosened by rain, rolled down a hill- side near Shau Kei Wan and crushed two squatter huts causing seven out of the nine known fatalities.
There were only three fine days before typhoon Tilda began to threaten the Colony on 15th September. Tilda moved very slowly along-a most unusual looped track and although it caused no damage in Hong Kong, local storm signals were hoisted for a record 161 hours, and the unloading of ships was seriously disrupted. Typhoon Tilda was closely followed by typhoon Anita on 27th September, Billie on 30th September and Clara on 7th October. None of these caused any damage although strong winds caused further delays to shipping. "
On 9th October typhoon Dot moved westwards across the Philippines and at first it seemed to be following the same track as typhoons Billie and Clara. However, on 11th October when Dot was just about to pass Hong Kong, it turned northwards and headed straight for the Colony. The centre passed about 20 miles east of the observatory at 6.30 a.m. on 13th October. Typhoon Dot was travelling rather more slowly than the other storms so that both gales and heavy rain lasted for a comparatively long time. Winds were not as violent as in typhoon Ruby and only two ships went aground but there was much more rain. Many roads were blocked and numerous landslides and house collapses killed at least 26 people.