F 12
In the following table are given the annual values of the magnetic elements in 1923, as derived from observations made in the new magnetic hut with magnetometer Elliott 83 and dip circle Dover 71:--
1923.
Declination (west) 0°23.2' Dip (north) 30°44.7' Horizontal Force (C.G.S. unit) 0.37284 Vertical Force (C.G.S. unit) 0.22177 Total Force (C.G.S. unit) 0.43381The Horizontal Force and Declination observations were made with Magnets No. 83 from January to May inclusive. On May 16 the lens and scale of the collimator magnet were accidentally fractured and Magnets No. 55 were used in unifilar Elliott No. 83 from June until the end of the year.
The damaged magnet was sent to England for repair in January 1924.
TIME BALL.
Time Ball.-The Time Ball on Kowloon Signal Hill is dropped at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily, except on Saturdays when it is dropped at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and on Sundays and Holidays when it is dropped at 10 a.m. only. (120th Meridian Time).
The Ball is hoisted half mast at the 55th minute and full mast at the 57th minute. If the ball fails to drop at the correct time it is lowered at 5 minutes past the hour and the ordinary routine repeated at the following hour, if possible.
When the Time Ball is out of order the above routine is carried out with flag "Z", on the storm signal mast. On no occasion was the flag system required in 1923.
Time Signals are also given at night by means of three white lamps mounted vertically on the Observatory radio mast. From 8h. 56m. 0s. to 9h. 0m. 0s. p.m. the lamps are extinguished momentarily at the even seconds, except at the 2nd, 28th, 50th, 52nd, and 54th of each minute. The 9 p.m. signals were repeated at midnight on December 31, the last flash indicating the close of the year 1923. The hours refer to Hongkong Standard Time (8 hours East of Greenwich).