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THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1974
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TYPHOONS OUTLINED
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THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR. GORDON BELL TODAY (THURSDAY SAID THAT A TROPICAL DEPRESSION WAS EXPECTED TO FORM IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ABOUT 250 MILES SOUTH OF HONG KONG.
HE REMINDED EVERYONE THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE COMING TROPICAL CYCLONE SEASON.
THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN THE COLONY IS THREATENED SHOULD NOW ENSURE THAT ALL THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND RELEVANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE UP-TO-DATE AND THAT ANY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED IS IN GOOD ORDER.
FASTENINGS ON DOORS AND WINDOWS SHOULD BE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. DRAINS SHOULD BE CLEARED OF OBSTRUCTIONS AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGE.
EMERGENCY STOCKS OF FOOD, CANDLES, TORCHES AND FIRST-AID EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.
DETAILS ABOUT TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS ARE IN THE FRONT OF EVERY TELEPHONE DIRECTORY AND ON SPECIAL CARDS ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
NO.1 IS A STAND BY SIGNAL+, THE HOISTING OF NO.1 SIGNAL DOES NOT WARN THE ONSET OF HIGH WINDS AND IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR MOST NORMAL ACTIVITIES TO CONTINUE WHILE THIS SIGNAL IS HOISTED.
HOWEVER YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NO.3 SIGNAL IS HOISTED. THIS IS A DEFINITE WARNING OF STRONG WINDS, THAT IS WINDS OF 22 TO 33 KNOTS.
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THERE ARE FOUR NUMBER 8 SIGNALS 8NW, 8SW, 8NE AND 88SE -- WHICH GIVE POSITIVE WARNING OF GALE OR STORM FORCE WINDS FROM THE DIRECTION INDICATED.
THE NO.8 SIGNALS COVER A RANGE OF WINDSPEEDS FROM 34 TO 63
KNOTS.
NUMBERS 9 AND 10 SIGNALS IMPLY THAT THE CENTRE OF A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM OR TYPHOON WILL COME VERY CLOSE TO THE COLONY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND CAN BE EXPECTED TO CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.
WHEN NO.8, 9 OR 10 SIGNAL IS DISPLAYED, SPECIAL BULLETINS ARE PREPARED EVERY HOUR AND BROADCAST AT TWO MINUTES BEFORE EACH HOUR AND AT HALF PAST EACH HOUR THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT.
THESE BULLETINS GIVE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE PROGRESS OF THE STORM AND ENABLE YOU TO PLOT THE POSITION OF THE CENTRE IF YOU WISH TO DO SO.
IF YOU WISH TO KNOW WHICH SIGNAL IS HOISTED YOU SHOULD TEL TELEPHONE THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AT 5-456381 AND NOT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
YOU
CHANGED TOENNEER SPECIAL NOTIFICATION EVERY TIME SIGNALS ARE
HANGED THEN THE TELEPHONE COMPANY CAN PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR YOU FOR A NOMINAL CHARGE.
/ALL SCHOOLS