THURSDA
BY NOW, THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES DURING STORMS SHOULD HAVE REVIEWED THE IR INSTRUCTIONS AND BROUGHT THEM UP-TO-DATE
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE MEANINGS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNALS AND THESE ARE EXPLAINED IN A CARD WHICH IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HEADQUARTERS, THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT OFFICES. HOWEVER, THIS KNOWLEDGE ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE THAT PRECAUTIONARY ACTION TAKEN DURING A TROPICAL CYCLONE WILL BE APPROPRIATE, AS THE SIGNAL SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO WARN SHIPS' CAPTAINS AND FISHERMEN OF WIND CONDITIONS AT SEA. THE SIGNALS DO NOT INDICATE IF IT IS SAFE FOR THOSE ON LAND TO BE WORKING OUTDOORS OR TO BE TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE IR HOMES AND PLACES OF WORK, ALTHOUGH WHENEVER A NO. 9 OR NO. 10 SIGNAL IS DISPLAYED, THE VIOLENCE OF THE WINDS ALWAYS MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO LEAVE A SAFE SHELTER.
DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF AN APPROACHING SLOW MOVING TROPICAL STORM IT MAY BE QUITE SAFE TO DELAY RETURNING HOME FROM WORK UNTIL SOME HOURS AFTER THE HOISTING OF A NO. 8 SIGNAL. SIMILARLY WHEN A TROPICAL STORM HAS ONLY SKIRTED HONG KONG AND IS MOVING AWAY, TRAVEL BY LAND TRANSPORT MAY INVOLVE NO DANGER IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT A NO. 8 SIGNAL REMAINS DISPLAYED TO INDICATE THAT GALES STILL PERSIST OVER EXPOSED WATERS IN THE TERRITORY. CONVERSELY, CONTINUOUS HEAVY RAIN AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A VIOLENT TYPHOON MAY CAUSE FLOODING AND LANDSLIPS MAKING IT UNSAFE TO VENTURE OUT FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME AFTER ALL TROPICAL CYCLONE SIGNALS HAVE BEEN LOWERED.
GENERAL ADVICE ON SUITABLE PRECAUTIONS AS WELL AS REPORTS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE AND EXPECTED WEATHER CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG ARE INCLUDED IN WEATHER BULLETINS BROADCAST OVER RADIO AND TELEVISION. ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE ALSO MADE ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FERRY, BUS, TRAM AND TRAIN SERVICES. MANAGERS OF SHOPS, OFF ICES AND FACTORIES ARE ADVISED TO CONSIDER THE AVAILABILITY OF ALL THIS INFORMATION AND OTHER FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES IN OBTAINING AGREEMENTS AS TO WHAT STAGE DURING A TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT STAFF SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM WORK. SIMILAR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BY EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IS DESIRABLE IN DECIDING HOW SOON IT IS SAFE AND NECESSARY TO GO BACK TO WORK. THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT AS WELL AS EXISTING AND EXPECTED WEATHER-RELATED DANGERS AT THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND ON THE STREETS SHOULD ALL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
MR. PEACOCK SUGGESTED THAT WHILST ALL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE THE DANGERS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM TROPICAL CYCLONES, PRUDENT DECISIONS ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE UNNECESSARY DISRUPTION TO INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MANY PEOPLE ON LAND REACT TO SIGNAL CHANGES RATHER THAN OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION, THESE SIGNAL CHANGES ARE MADE, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AT TIMES WHICH WILL NOT BE INCONVENIENT FOR THEM. THERE WILL BE OCCASIONS WHEN THE SAFETY OF THOSE AT SEA REQUIRE THAT SIGNALS ARE HOISTED AND STAY HOISTED FOR LONG PERIODS EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY BE TROUBLESOME FOR THOSE ON LAND WHOSE TRAVEL AND WORKING ARRANGEMENTS ARE DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE DISPLAY OF TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS.