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The Environment
Public Education and Engagement
The Observatory promotes awareness of hazardous weather and the impacts of climate change and radiation. A series of outreach events, riding on the 100th anniversary of the introduction of numbered tropical cyclone warning signals in Hong Kong in 2017, promoted public understanding of tropical cyclone-related hazards and disaster prevention. The activities included a campaign with RTHK to collect historical materials of tropical cyclones from the public, a video series on typhoon hazards and cooperation with Hongkong Post to issue stamps on numbered tropical cyclone signals.
Volunteers from Friends of the Observatory, with more than 12,000 members, supported the events, including by conducting public tours at the Observatory headquarters.
The Observatory works with schools and the community to promote weather education through its Community Weather Information Network (Co-WIN), a joint initiative with Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong that encourages residents to share weather photos and observations. During the year, Co-WIN launched a new-generation microclimate station to promote community engagement and smart city development. The Observatory also released its first e-book, 'Cloud Appreciation by Dr Tin, and rolled out a crowd-sourcing campaign, 'Cloud- sourcing: in Touch with Weather from Land, Sea and Air, to collect and share weather photos and videos from members of the public and the aviation and marine communities.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory supports the enforcement of environmental protection legislation and implementation of environmental programmes by providing analytical and advisory services. It conducts tests on environmental samples of air, water, sediment, soil, biota, waste and liquid fuel to furnish these programmes with the necessary data. The laboratory also offers analytical services for chemicals regulated under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Websites
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: www.afcd.gov.hk
Civil Engineering and Development Department: www.cedd.gov.hk
Climate Action Plan 2030+: www.climateready.gov.hk
Council for Sustainable Development:
www.enb.gov.hk/en/susdev/council/index.htm
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: www.emsd.gov.hk Environment Bureau: www.enb.gov.hk
Environmental Protection Department: www.epd.gov.hk Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign: www.foodwisehk.gov.hk Harbour Area Treatment Scheme: www.cleanharbour.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory: www.hko.gov.hk and www.weather.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory Cool Met Stuff channel: url.hko.hk/cms MyObservatory application: www.weather.gov.hk/myobservatory_e.htm MyWorldWeather application: worldweather.wmo.int/en/apps.html 'Science in the Public Service' campaign: www.science.gov.hk Sustainable Development Division: www.enb.gov.hk/en/susdev/su/index.htm World Weather Information Service: worldweather.wmo.int
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