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TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1986
CIVIL ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS SHOULD ENSURE THAT SCAFFOLDING IS SECURED AGAINST DAMAGE FROM HIGH WINDS AND THAT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ARE TAKEN AT SITE WORKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE NEAR HILL SLOPES, AGAINST DAMAGE BY HEAVY RAIN, FLOODING AND LANDSLIPS.
BY NOW, THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES DURING STORMS SHOULD HAVE REVIEWED THEIR 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. THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED TO LISTEN TO DETAILED WEATHER BROADCASTS.
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. STARTING THIS YEAR, THE OBSERVATORY WILL USE THE METRIC UNITS TO EXPRESS THE SPEED OF MOVEMENT OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE AND WIND SPEEDS. THEY WILL BE GIVEN IN KILOMETRES PER HOUR,
EMPLOYERS SHOULD REACH EARLY AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES ON WORKING ARRANGEMENTS DURING A TROPICAL CYCLONE. IN OBTAINING AGREEMENTS AS TO WHAT STAGE DURING A TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT STAFF SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM WORK, THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THE AVAILABILITY OF ALL INFORMATION ON WEATHER AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND OTHER FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE EMPLOYEES. SIMILAR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BY EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IS DESIRABLE IN DECIDING HOW SOON IT IS SAFE AND NECESSARY TO RETURN TO WORK.
MR SHAM STRESSES THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHILST ALL PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMISE 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 ACTIVITIES. SUCH DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY AND AUTOMATICALLY ON THE WARNING SIGNALS WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO WARN SHIPS' CAPTAINS AND FISHERMEN OF WIND CONDITIONS AT SEA.
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