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TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1975
MORE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
EXPECTED THIS SUMMER
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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION AGAINST HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE FREQUENT THIS SUMMER.
ACCORDING TO A LONG-RANGED WEATHER FORECAST BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, THE RAINFALL THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 15 PER CENT ABOVE THE NORMAL AVERAGE.
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THUNDERSTORMS, NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY RAIN, ARE ALSO LIKELY TO OCCUR MOŘE OFTEN DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
IN HONG KONG, AN AVERAGE OF NINE THUNDERSTORMS OCCURS EVERY MONTH BETWEEN APRÍL AND SEPTEMBER. IN MAY THIS YEAR, THE FREQUENT HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NECESSITATED THE ISSUING OF THE THUNDERSTORM AND HEAVY RAIN WARNING ON 19 DAYS OF THE MONTH.
IN VIEW OF THE PROSPECTS OF MORE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY REMINDED THE PUBLIC OF THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES THEY SHOULD TAKE TO SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES AGAINST ANY DAMAGE DURING A THUNDERSTORM WHERE LIGHTNING IS LIKELY TO OCCUR.
THE POINTERS HANDED OUT BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY ARE:
* STAY INDOORS, DON'T VENTURE OUTSIDE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY
KEEP AWAY FROM TREES OR POLES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
* DON'T SWIM
* DON'T TOUCH AERIALS, WATER PIPES, WIRE FENCES OR OTHER
METAL INSTALLATIONS
* DON'T HANDLE INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS IN OPEN CONTAINERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A WARNING WILL BE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AS SOON AS IT IS EXPECTED THAT A THUNDERSTORM OR HEAVY RAIN IS TO OCCUR IN ANY PART OF HONG KONG.
THE WARNING WILL BE BROADCAST BY RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS. IT WILL ALSO BE PASSED BY THE TELEPONE COMPANY, FOR AN ANNUAL CHARGE, DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTION.
THE SPOKESMAN`SAID: THE WARNING WILL NOT BE ISSUED WHEN A TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNAL IS HOISTED.+
+HOWEVER,+ HE SAID,+PRECAUTION AGAINST HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM SHOULD NOT BE LAX DURING THE HOISTING OF A TROPICAL STORM SIGNAL.+
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