HONGKONG TYPHOON SIGNALS
A Cone point upwards indicates a typhoon to the north of the Colony.
A Cone point upwards and Drum below indicates a typhoon to the north-east of the Colony. A Drum indicates a typhoon to the east of the Colony.
A Cone point downwards and Drum below indicates a typhoon to the south-east of the Colony. A Cone point downwards indicates a typhoon to the south of the Colony.
A Cone point downwards and Ball below indicates a typhoon to the south-west of the Colony. A Ball indicates a typhoon to the west of the Colony.
A Cone point upwards and Ball below indicates a typhoon to the north-west of the Colony.
Red Signals indicate that the centre is believed to be more than 300 miles away from the Colony. Black Signals indicate that the centre is believed to be less than 300 miles away from the Colony. The above signals will as heretofore be hoisted only when typhoons exist in such positions, or are moving in such directions that information regarding them is considered to be of importance to the Colony or to shipping leaving the harbour.
NIGHT SIGNALS
The following Night Signals will be exhibited from the Flagstaff on the roof of the Water Police Station at Kowloon, the Harbour Office Flagstaff, and H.M.S. Tamar.
I. Three Lights Vertical, Green-Green-Green. Indicates that a typhoon is believed to be rituated more than 300 miles from the Colony.
II. Three Lights Vertical. Green-Red-Green. Indicates that a typhoon is believed to be situated less than 300 miles from the Colony.
III. Three Lights Vertical, Red-Green-Red. Indicates that the wind may be expected to increase to full typhoon force at any moment.
No. III. Signal will be accompanied by three Explosive Bombs, fired at intervals of ten seconds in the event of the information conveyed by this signal being first published by night.
Theeo Night Signals will be substituted for the Day Signals at sunset, and will, when necessary, be altered during the night.
SUPPLEMENtary WabnINGS.
For the benefit of Native Craft and passing Ocean Vessels, a cone will be exhibited at each of the following stations during the time that any of the above Day Signals are hoisted in the Harbour :-Gap Rock. Waglan, Stanley, Cape Collinson, Aberdeen, Sai Kung, Tai Po.
This will indicate that there is a depression somewhere in the China Sea, and that a Storm Warning is hoisted in the Harbour.
LOCAL STORM-WARNINGS
The Colony itself is warned of approaching typhoons by means of The Explosive Bombs which are fired whenever a strong gale of wind is expected to blow here.
THE CHINA Coast CoDE
From let January, 1906, signals according to the China Coast Code will be hoisted on the signa! mast on Signal Hill, Kowloon.
SIGNAL STATIONS
(VICTORIA PEAK AND BLACKHEAD'S HILL) HONGKONG
The following Notification was issued from the Harbour Office in January, 1904: -
The Commercial Code of Signals will be used at the Signal Stations.
All signals made by vessels in the "Offing" will be repeated at Victoria Peak, arrangements can also be made to have them forwarded to the addressee by telephone from the Harbour Master's Office. Signals can also be passed between vessels in the "Offing" and any one prepared to take them in on the harbour side, and vice versa": The "attention" flag for these signals (to be hoisted at the mast head of the ship and of the Station flagstaff) is the White Ensign in the case of Men-of-war, and Red Ensign over the House Flag in the case of Merchant Vessels.
Vessels approaching the Eastern entrance to the Harbour will be signalled on the Eastern Yard- arm, those approaching the Western entrance on the Western Yard-arm.
When a vessel is sighted from Victoria Peak Station the Compass bearing and symbol at the Yard- arm, and the Distance Šignals at the Mast head, will be hoisted. If, when the vessel is made out, she is not a Mail steamer, her House Flag will be substituted for the Compass Signal, and it will be kept flying till she anchors. The Distance Signal will be kept up for fifteen minutes after the vessel in made out.
If the vessel is a regular Mail Steamer, a gun will be fired and a Ball over the English, French, American, or German Ensign, or the Canadian Pacific House Flag, with the Distance Signal under, will be hoisted at the Mast head, and the Compass signal and symbol will be hauled down. The Distance signal will be kept flying, and will be changed each successive half hour. When the vessel is between Green Island and North Point the Code Pendant will take the place of the Distance Signal, and will be kept up till the vessel is at her moorings.
At Blackhead's Hill Station, signals similar to the foregoing will be hoisted to denote vessels passing Cape D'Aguilar and the Gap Rock.
All House Flags, symbols, and distance signals hoisted at Victoria Peak will be repeated at Blackhead's Hill, and “vice versa.'
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When a mail steamer is reported by telegraph from the Gap Rook or Cape D'Aguilar, the distinguish- ing signal will be hoisted at once, the gun will be fired, and the distance symbol hoisted when she is sighted from Victoria Peak Station.
Any special flag hoisted on board an incoming vessel denoting the presence on board of on Officer of high rank will be repeated at the Flag Staff Mast-head.
The approach of Men-of-war will be notified by their proper symbols and National Colours, at the Quarter of the Yard.
The approach of British Transports will be notified by the Blue Ensign over the appropriate symbol, hoisted at the Quarter of the Yard.
The Distance signal will denote the distance (estimated at Victoria Peak) of the vessel from Green Island on the West and Cape D'Aguilar on the East.
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