On the 18th August a severe typhoon struck the Colony, and although the warning signals had been hoisted and junks and small craft had been able to reach the shelters at Mongkoktsui and Causeway Bay, much damage was done. Many vessels were driven ashore, and His Majesty's Submarine L9 and the S.S. “Loong Sang" were sunk in the harbour close to the Praya wall with, unfortunately, some loss of life in the case of the "Loong Sang". Measures were under consideration at the close of the year for improving the scheme of typhoon warnings and life-saving methods in the harbour.
The agitation for acquiring certain areas of land in the City of Victoria and in Kowloon belonging to the War Department resulted in the appointment by His Majesty's Government of Sir John Oakley to report on the whole question. He arrived in the Colony in September and remained for a month.
The Colony showed its sympathy for the sufferers from the severe earthquake in Japan on the 1st September by voting a sum of $250,000 and sending food and clothing.
Much damage to public works was caused by a phenomenal rainfall of sixteen inches on the 31st October.
Mr. T. L. Perkins, Director of Public Works, retired from the service in May, and was succeeded in August by Mr. H. T. Creasy, Assistant Director of Public Works, Ceylon.
The Colonial Secretary was absent from the Colony from the 7th March to the 3rd November, during which period the duties of the post were performed by Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher, C.M.G., C.B.E.