1887-1903
169
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
13
worst hurricane experienced in the Colony since the memorable storm of 1874.
The Observatory reports indicate that the disturbance originated in the Pacific some days previously and entered the China Sea to the North of Luzon on the 28th July. Moving thence in a W.N.W. direction at a somewhat high average speed of 13 miles an hour, the centre of the storm had attained a position 150 miles to the south-east of the Colony at noon on the 29th July. Its course was maintained, and at 4 p.m. a strong gale from N.E. by N. was experienced in Hong Kong. Subsequently, the wind veered round to East by South, and the storm reached its height at 10 p.m., the Observatory anemograph recording at that hour the great wind velocity of 108 miles an hour, exceeding by 19 miles an hour the greatest velocity of the wind recorded during the very severe storm experienced in September, 1884. A strict comparison with the force of the typhoon which passed over the Colony on the 5th and 6th October, 1894, cannot be made owing to the damage sustained by the anemograph on that occasion, but it is almost certain that the velocity of the wind in July last was considerably greater.
The barometric minimum (28.87 inches) was registered at the Observatory between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m., whilst at Gap Rock Lighthouse, some 30 miles south of Hong Kong, the lowest reading, 28.54, was observed at 9 p.m., the centre of the typhoon at the time being within 10 miles of that station and some 40 miles distant from the Colony.
At Victoria Peak, which is some 1,500 feet above the level of the sea, the damage caused by the storm was much greater than on the lower levels, the maximum velocity of the wind being about 140 miles an hour.
A noteworthy feature of the typhoon was the small rainfall (3.09 inches during the 29th and 30th July) which accompanied it, as compared with 16.11 inches which fell during the typhoon of October, 1894.
This was perhaps a fortunate circumstance as a heavy rainfall invariably adds to the destructive powers of the wind, and I am glad to be able to record that there was but little loss of life, although a not inconsiderable amount of damage to property.
GENERAL.
In the concluding paragraphs of this my last Blue Book report from Hong Kong, it may not be inappropriate to invite your attention to the following comparisons between the years
1887-1903
169
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
13
worst hurricane experienced in the Colony since the memorable storm of 1874.
The Observatory reports indicate that the disturbance originated in the Pacific some days previously and entered the China Sea to the North of Luzon on the 28th July. Moving thence in a W.N.W. direction at a somewhat high average speed of 13 miles an hour, the centre of the storm had attained a position 150 miles to the south-east of the Colony at noon on the 29th July. Its course was maintained, and at 4 p.m. a strong gale from N.E. by N. was experienced in Hong Kong. Subsequently, the wind veered round to East by South, and the storm reached its height at 10 p.m., the Observatory anemograph recording at that hour the great wind velocity of 108 miles an hour, exceeding by 19 miles an hour the greatest velocity of the wind recorded during the very severe storm experienced in September, 1884. A strict comparison with the force of the typhoon which passed over the Colony on the 5th and 6th October, 1894, cannot be made owing to the damage sustained by the anemograph on that occasion, but it is almost certain that the velocity of the wind in July last was considerably greater.
The barometric minimum (28.87 inches) was registered at the Observatory between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m., whilst at Gap Rock Lighthouse, some 30 miles south of Hong Kong, the lowest reading, 28.54, was observed at 9 p.m., the centre of the typhoon at the time being within 10 miles of that station and some 40 miles distant from the Colony.
At Victoria Peak, which is some 1,500 feet above the level of the sea, the damage caused by the storm was much greater than on the lower levels, the maximum velocity of the wind being about 140 miles an hour.
A noteworthy feature of the typhoon was the small rainfall (3.09 inches during the 29th and 30th July) which accompanied it, as compared with 16-11 inches which fell during the typhoon of October, 1894.
This was perhaps a fortunate circumstance as a heavy rainfall invariably adds to the destructive powers of the wind, and I am glad to be able to record that there was but little loss of life, although a not inconsiderable amount of damage to property.
GENERAL.
In the concluding paragraphs of this my last Blue Book report from Hong Kong, it may not be inappropriate to invite your attention to the following comparisons between the years
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