HONGKONG.
No.
6
1903
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY, FOR THE YEAR 1902.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
HONGKONG OBSERVATORY,
5th February, 1903.
SIR,-In the absence of the Director on leave, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Observatory to His Excellency the Governor. The eighteenth volume of observations was published last summer, and the nineteenth volume is now being printed. It contains the usual astronomical, meteorological and magnetic observations.
2. The comparison of weather forecasts, issued daily about 11 a.m., with the weather subsequently experienced, has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (comp. Annual Report for 1896 § 5). The results are as follows:---
Success 56%, partial success 35%, partial failure 8%, failure 1%.
Following the method used in meteorological offices and taking the sum of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sum of total and partial failure as a measure of failure, it follows that :-
91% of the weather forecasts were successful in 1902.
3. The China Coast Meteorological Register was printed every morning at the Observatory, and information regarding storms was telegraphed to Hongkong and exhibited on notice-boards as often and as fully as such information could be justified by the weather telegrams received. This happened on 95 days in 1902. The Red Drum was hoisted 5 times, the Red South Cone twice, the Black Drum 3 times, the Black South Cone twice, the Black North Cone 3 times and the Black Ball once. The Typhoon Gun was fired 3 times. Printed Bulletins for general distribution were issued on 26 occasions. The distribution of the China Coast Meteorological Register has been extended, and since last summer it has been delivered free daily to all shipping firms.
4. His Honour the Commissioner of Wei-hai-wei has been good enough to cause meteorological observations to be made there twice daily, and by the courtesy of the Eastern Extension and Australasian Telegraph Company, these observations have been transmitted to the Observatory free by cable since November last.
5. The thanks of the Government are due to the Telegraph Companies, who continue to forward the meteorological telegrams from outports to Hongkong free of charge, and also to the staffs of the Eastern Extension and Australasian Telegraph Company at Sharp Peak, Malate, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu, who make and transmit observations twice daily.
6. Telegraphic connection with Victoria was interrupted as follows:-March 20th 10.26 a. to 2.30 p.; 28th 7.10 a. to April 2nd 10.40 a. ; 8th 8 a. to 10th 9.40 a.; 10th 1 p. to 12th 9.48 a.; 12th 11.40 a. to 13th 11. a.; May 27th 4.10 p. to 28th 3.45 p.; June 20th 1.21 p. to 4.51 p.; July 3rd 1.8 p. to 7.15 p.; 17th 11.10 a. to 12.15 p.; 19th 8.43 a. to 10.20 a.; August 2nd 6.13 p. to 4th 9.25 p.; 5th 10.45 a, to 12.3 P.; 6th 9.48 a. to 10.56 a.; 10th 7 a. to 6.24 p. ; 12th 1.30 p. to 2.50 p.; 19th 7.10 a. to 10.25 a.; 28th 3.30 p. to 3.15 p. ; 29th 7.10 a. to 31st 10.40 a.; 31st 11.45 a. to 1 p.; September 6th 1.5 p. to 3 p.; 15th 1.25 p. to 3.45 p.; 16th 5.15 p. to 17th 8.15 a.; 17th 11.55 a. to 1.10 p. ; 29th 78 a. to 11.15 a.; October 13th 9.21 a. to 10.50 a.; 25th 10.45 a. to 2.40 p.; November 11th 11.45 a. to 1.15 p. Interruptions occurred therefore on 39 days, and of course, also, during thunderstorms.
7. During 1902 in addition to meteorological registers kept at about 40 stations on shore, 1,253 ship logs have been copied on board or forwarded by the captains. The total number of vessels, whose log-books have been made use of, was 164. The total number of days' observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 9073.
8. The following is a list of ships, from which logs have been obtained in 1902. When not other- wise distinguished the vessels are steamships :-Ailsa Craig, Airlie, Alcinous, Alesia, Amara, Amphitrite (H M.S.), Anamba, Apenrade, Ariake Maru, Australian, Awa Maru, Ballaarat, Banca, Bengal, Bisagno, Bjórn, Bombay, Bormida, Braemar, Calchas, Candia, Canton, Capri, Carl Diederichsen, Ceylon, Chelydra, Chihli, Chinkiang, Chingtu, Chiyo Maru, Chowtai, Choysang, Chunsang, Coptic, Corinthia, Coromandel, Cressy (H.M.S.), Diamante, Dott, Eastern, Elsa, Empress of China, Empress of India, Empress of Japan, Esang, Espiègle (H.M.S.), Fausang, Ferdinand Laeisz, Feronia, Fukui Maru, Gaelic, Glengyle, Guthrie, Hailoong, Hakata Maru, Hangsang, Heathburn, Hikosan Maru, Hillglen, Hinsang, Hitachi Maru, Hong Bee, Hongkong Maru, Ibadan, Indrani, Indrasamha, Indravelli, Java,
50--113.08.