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The Environment
to protect the local biological diversity from possible adverse impacts arising from GMOS intended for release into the environment, such as farming or field trials.
UN Convention on Biological Diversity
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which covers Hong Kong as part of China, aims to conserve biodiversity, ensure the sustainable use of its components, and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources. The government has developed a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for implementation between 2016 and 2021 based on the objectives and principles of the convention, taking into account local economic and social priorities, and aspirations of the people. This will step up conservation efforts and support Hong Kong's sustainable development.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, adopted under the convention, aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of GMOs that may affect biodiversity adversely. Hong Kong implements the protocol through enforcing the Genetically Modified Organisms (Control of Release) Ordinance.
Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. January and February are cloudier with cold spells, while March and April are milder and humid with fog. From May to August, it is hot and humid with occasional heavy rain and thunderstorms. Tropical cyclones usually occur between June and October, bringing high winds, heavy rain and sometimes storm surges. November and December are generally fine and dry with pleasantly cool weather, and may on occasion be relatively cold at night and in the early morning.
The Year's Weather
The year 2017 was rather warm. Hong Kong registered an annual mean temperature of 23.9 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees above normal and among the third warmest since records began. in 1884. The maximum temperature of 36.6 degrees recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory headquarters on 22 August was the highest on record, while the annual total rainfall of 2,572.1mm was 7 per cent more than normal.
Tropical cyclone warning signals were issued seven times, with five tropical cyclones necessitating the issuance of warning signals No 8 or above. The strongest of the warnings, the No 10 Hurricane Signal, was issued during the passage of Super Typhoon Hato in August and was the first since Severe Typhoon Vicente hit Hong Kong in July 2012. The storm surge brought by Hato raised water levels in Hong Kong generally by one to two metres. It coincided with the high water from the astronomical tide, causing an aggregated effect that flooded many low- lying areas. Quarry Bay waters rose up to 3.57 metres above Chart Datum, the second highest in Quarry Bay since instrument records began in 1954, surpassed only by the record associated with Super Typhoon Wanda in 1962.
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