XN000022-1983-04-20 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1983

ROYAL OBSERVATORY EXPANDS WARNING SERVICES

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THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY THIS YEAR HAS FURTHER EXTENDED ITS PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEM TO COVER THE DANGERS OF LANDSLIPS AND FLOODING DUE TO HEAVY RAIN.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS GIVING WEATHER INFORMATION AND APPROPRIATE ADVICE WILL BE ISSUED AND BROADCAST TO ALL CONCERNED.

+THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC ADVICE TO THOSE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED AND TO ALERT THEM TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS,+ THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR JOHN PEACOCK, EXPLAINED TODAY.

PREPAREDNESS, HE STRESSED, IS THE KEY FACTOR FOR MINIMISING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, INJURIES AND LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO HAZARDOUS WEATHER.

SINCE 1884 THE OBSERVATORY HAS BEEN PROVIDING TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNINGS TO MARINERS AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

AND OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THESE SERVICES AND INTRODUCED ́ADD ITIONAL WARNING SYSTEMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS.

+FOR INSTANCE, THE OBSERVATORY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING WARNINGS TO ADVISE FARMERS OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THEIR CROPS DUE TO LOW TEMPERATURES, WARNINGS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF THE DANGERS WHEN USING SOME GAS WATER HEATERS AND WARNINGS OF THE HIGH RISK OF HILL FIRES, MR PEACOCK POINTED OUT.

IT HAS BEEN NEARLY FOUR YEARS SINCE TYPHOON HOPE SWEPT OVER HONG KONG AND 12 YEARS SINCE TYPHOON ROSE KILLED 110 PEOPLE AND LEFT OVER 3 600 HOMELESS.

MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN OR NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH DISASTROUS EFFECTS, BUT SOME BASIC PRELIMINARY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TYPHOONS SHOULD BE TAKEN NOW, AS THE TROPICAL CYCLONE SEASON IS APPROACHING, MR PEACOCK SAID.

+CIVIL ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS SHOULD ENSURE THAT PROCEDURES ARE ESTABLISHED SO THAT SCAFFOLDINGS MAY BE SECURED WHEN HIGH WINDS THREATEN HONG KONG AND THAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN AT WORK SITES, ESPECIALLY THOSE NEAR HILL SLOPES, AGAINST DAMAGE BY HEAVY RAIN, FLOODING AND LANDSLIPS.

+THOSE LIVING IN HUTS ON HILL-SIDES ARE URGED TO BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF LANDSLIPS. THOSE LIVING IN LOW-LYING AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FLOODING ARISING FROM VIOLENT RAINFALL AND STORM SURGES, HE STRESSED.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THE NEAREST SAFETY SHELTERS TO GO TO IF THEIR HOMES ARE THREATENED OR DAMAGED, HE ADDED.

/INFORMATION