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Sunday, April 1, 1973
The Director of Royal Observatory said the new warning signal system
came into effect at the beginning of this year after consultations with
various departments and organisations concerned.
Apart from simplification, he said, the new system would eliminate
public misunderstanding of typhoon signals caused by numerical order,
"As a matter of fact, the old Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 signals were only
used to differentiate directions of winds with same force," he explained.
"As far as these four signals are concerned, wind speed and the
likelihood of danger did not correspond with the numerical order.
New System
"We hope that the new system will remove public misunderstanding
of the warning signals, and thus minimising danger and loss caused by tropical
cyclones," the Director said.
The Government Information Services has now prepared a pamphlet
entitled "Preliminary Information on Hong Kong's New Tropical Cyclone Warning
Signals". It gives a simple description and definition of the new warning
signals.
Further details of the new system have also been printed on separate
information cards. These cards tell the public what step of precaution should
be taken when various signals are hoisted.
They also contain a map for plotting tropical cyclone tracks and
should be useful on every desk.
Copies of these publications are now available free of charge at all
City District Offices, New Territories District Offices, the Marine Department,
the Education Department and the Government Information Services,
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