No. 1905
20
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY, FOR THE YEAR 1904.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
HONGKONG OBSERVATORY, 21st February, 1905.
SIR,-I have the honour to submit my Annual Report of the Observatory for 1904 to His Excellency the Governor. The twentieth volume of observations, containing the usual astronomical, meteorological and magnetic observations has been printed. During the absence of Mr. F. G. FIGG on leave since the 13th February, 1904, Mr. J. I. PLUMMER has taken charge of weather-forecasts and storm-warnings, and Mr. WAN SUIT NGAM has attended to the meteorological instruments.
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 here- tofore (compare Annual Report for 1896 § 5): The results are as follows :-
Success 45 per cent., partial success 43 per cent. partial failure 11 per cent., failure 0 per cent.
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 88 per cent., of the weather, forecasts were successful in 1904.
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 telegrains received. This happened on 65 days in 1904. The Red Drum alone was hoisted once, the Red South Cone and Red Drum 3 times, the Red South Cone alone twice, the Black South Cone and Black Drum once, the Black South Cone alone, twice, and the Black South Cone and Black Ball once. The typhoon gun was fired once. Printe bulletins for general
distribution were issued once.
4. 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, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu, who make and transmit observations twice daily.
5. Telegraphic connection with Victoria was interrupted as follows:-April 6th 7 a. to 7th, 7.46 a.; June 2nd 5.1 p. to 6.47 p. ; 2nd 6.50 p. to 3rd 9.21 a..; 3rd 4.20 p. to 4th 3.50 p., July 9th 3.20 p. to 10th 12.10 p., 18th 6 a. to 11 a.; August 25th 10 p. to 26th 5.55 p.; September 2nd 11.50 a. to 7th 11.20 a.; 23rd 10.20 a. to 1.30 p.; October 23rd 4.10 p. to 24th 6.35 a.; December 16th I p. to 17th 10.10 a. Interruptions occurred therefore on 21 days, and of course, also during thunderstorms.
6. During 1904 in addition to meteorological registers kept at about 40 stations on shore, 1716 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 259. The total number of days' observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 11767.