THE ENVIRONMENT
operates the official time service for Hong Kong, provides basic astronomical information and maintains a seismological monitoring network.
Of all the services, the most visible aspects are undoubtedly weather forecasting and warnings of hazardous weather - responsibilities borne by the Central Forecasting Office. Bulletins and advice are issued to meet the diverse requirements of the public, shipping, aviation, industry, fishing, recreation, off-shore oil-prospecting operations and other special users.
Whenever Hong Kong is threatened by tropical cyclones, frequent warnings with advice on necessary precautions are widely disseminated. The heavy rain episode on May 8, 1992 led to the introduction of a colour-coded rainstorm alert and warning system. A rainstorm warning is now issued whenever Hong Kong is affected by heavy rain which may cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. Other warnings operated by the Royal Observatory include warnings on thunderstorm, flooding, landslips, storm surges, fire danger, strong monsoon winds and frost.
Particular importance is attached to the effective dissemination of up-to-date weather information to the public, the media and other users. Regular TV weather programmes on current and future weather events are presented by professional meteorologists from Monday to Friday. Live interviews and briefings are also given by forecasters over the radio and television when the situation warrants. Two special bulletins with accompanying weather charts as illustrations are prepared for the Press each day.
For members of the public requiring instant access to weather forecasts or tropical cyclone information, the observatory operates a dial-a-weather service. The demand for this service continues to grow. There are now 17 lines for public weather forecasts and four lines for south China coastal waters bulletins. More than eight million calls were handled in 1992. On average, over 24 000 calls were handled on a typical day with rates exceeding 1 400 calls per hour at times.
Information is also provided to INFOTEX and INFOFAX which are services that make available to telex and telefax terminal holders a large variety of routine weather information, including pictorial information such as the daily weather map. Since 1990, IDD subscribers can also obtain recorded weather information by dialling pre-specified numbers. Weather information is also made available for access by terminals connected to a commercial communication and paging network.
In response to the difficulties experienced by fishermen in receiving the south China coastal waters bulletins through regular radio broadcasts, special arrangements were made with Hongkong Telecom International to broadcast the forecasts three times a day.
Specialised weather services are provided to engineering contractors, public utility companies, public transport operators, operators of oil rigs and other commercial enterprises and special users. Special weather information is supplied through teletype, telex or telefax.
Weather Forecasting, Monitoring and Prediction
To provide a wide range of meteorological services described in the previous section, the Royal Observatory maintains a weather watch round the clock. Weather observers at the Royal Observatory Headquarters and Hong Kong International Airport make regular observations on local weather conditions. Additional observations are made by volunteers and other collaborating agencies at other remote locations.
357