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THE ENVIRONMENT
the demand for such information, the Hong Kong Observatory operates a climatological information service. The data available include surface and upper-air observations from Hong Kong and neighbouring countries, marine weather observations from Voluntary Observing Ships and tidal observations.
The Observatory produces an annual tide table for Hong Kong. It also provides assessments of the probabilities of occurrence of extreme storm surges and advice on oceanographic matters to other government departments and the engineering community.
To monitor earthquake activities in the vicinity of Hong Kong, the Observatory operates a network of eight short-period seismograph stations. Long-period seismographs at the Observatory's headquarters detect tremors world-wide and information on significant tremors is made public through the media. In addition, three strong motion accelerographs were installed on different geological sites. On average, Hong Kong experiences two to three minor earth tremors every year.
The Hong Kong Time Standard is provided by a caesium beam atomic clock. Accuracy within fractions of a microsecond a day is maintained. A six-pip time signal is sent to Radio Television Hong Kong for broadcast at quarter-hour intervals. The time checking service is also available to the public through the Observatory's Telephone Information Enquiry System as well as through a Network Time Service at its home page. The Network Time Service provided over 155 million checks in 2002, or about 420 000 checks per day on average. Members of public can make use of this service, with the installation of the appropriate software, to synchronise the clock on their personal computers.
Home Pages
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau: http://www.etwb.gov.hk Economic Development and Labour Bureau: http://www.edlb.gov.hk
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: http://www.afcd.gov.hk Environmental Protection Department: http://www.epd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Observatory: http://www.hko.gov.hk