WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1992
J.
FS TO BRIEF NEW GOVERNOR
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, WILL FLY TO LONDON FOR A DUTY VISIT FROM JUNE 20 TO 25.
DURING HIS VISIT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE, MR CHRIS PATTEN, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS.
MR MACLEOD WILL ALSO CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR MICHAEL HESELTINE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND, MR ROBERT LEIGH-PEMBERTON.
TREASURY,
IN ADDITION, HE WILL MEET SENIOR OFFICIALS AT THE UK INCLUDING THE TWO PERMANENT SECRETARIES, SIR TERENCE BURNS AND SIR NIGEL WICKS.
HE WILL ALSO VISIT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON.
MR MACLEOD WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON JUNE 26.
NEW RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM INTRODUCED
A NEW RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM IS BEING INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE TIMELY ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND TO ENSURE A HIGH STATE OF READINESS IN DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES WHICH MAY ARISE FROM HEAVY RAINSTORMS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (SECURITY), MR IAN PETERSEN, SAID THE RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM WOULD COME INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND WILL OPERATE INDEPENDENT OF OTHER SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS, INCLUDING TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNALS.
THE NEW RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM FOLLOWS A REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINGENCY ARRANGEMENTS IN DEALING WITH DISASTERS, FOLLOWING THE EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINSTORM OF MAY 8.
NATURAL
"ALTHOUGH THE INTENSITY AND SEVERITY OF THE MAY 8 RAINSTORM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN, WE DECIDED THAT A SEPARATE WARNING SYSTEM FOR RAINSTORMS WAS NEEDED SO THAT EARLY PRECAUTIONS COULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY AND MINIMISE DISRUPTION, MR PETERSEN SAID.
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"THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS WITHIN THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE BARLY WARNING TO THE PUBLIC WITH CLEAR ADVICE OF WHAT PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE IN THE EVENT OF RAINSTORMS," HE SAID.
THE ACTING CHAN, EXPLAINED GREEN, AMBER, RED AND
OUTLINING THE NEW RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR Y.K. THAT FOUR COLOUR-CODED ALERTS WOULD BE USED BLACK.
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/"THE GREEN