HONGKONG STORM SIGNAL CODES.
A new Local Storm Signal Code was introduced at Hongkong on 1st July, 1917, in place of the old Local Code. The principal change in the Local Code is that the Signals show the direction from which the gale is expected, instead of the position of the typhoon. The latter is now indicated by the China Seas Storm Signal Code. The new Local Code is as follows:-
DAY SIGNALS.
Meaning.
Signal. Symbol.
1.-Red cone.-A typhoon exists which may possibly cause a gale at Hongkong within 24 hours, 2.- Black cone.-
Gale expected from the North (N.W. to N.E.)
3.- Black cone inverted.- 4.-Black drum,
5.-Black ball.-
""
""
"
"
South (S.E. to S.W.)
East (N.E. to S.E.)
""
"
"
"
West (N.W. to S.W.)
"
6.-Double cone.-Gale expected to increase,
7.- Black cross.-Wind of typhoon force expected (any direction).
Signal No. 7 will be accompanied by three explosive bombs, fired at intervals of 10 seconds, at the Water Police Station and repeated at the Harbour Office.
The signals will be lowered when it is considered that all danger is over.
The Day Signals will be displayed on the Radio mast at the Royal Observatory, the Harbour Office, H.M.S. Tamar, Green Island signal-mast, the flagstaff on the premises of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company at Kowloon, the flagstaff on the premises of the Standard Oil Company at Lai-chi-kok, and the flagstaff near the Field Officer's Quarters at Lyemun.
NIGHT SIGNALS. (Lamps.) Green
Green
White White 4 Green 5 White White
White
Green
White
Green
Green 62 Green Green
Red
7 Green
Red
White 12 White 2 Green 3
White The Night Signals will be displayed, at sunset, on the Radio mast at the Royal Observa- tory, on the tower of the Railway Station, on H.M.S. Tamar, and on the Harbour Office flagstaff. They will have the same signification as the day signals.
Signal No. 7 will be accompanied by explosive bombs as above, in the event of the informa- tion conveyed by this signal being first published at night.
SUPPLEMENTARY WARNINGS.
When local signals are displayed in the Harbour a Cone will be exhibited at the following stations:-
Gap Rock Waglan
Stanley Aberdeen
Sau Ki Wan Sai Kung
|
Sha Tau Kok Tai Po
to notify the fact to native craft and passing ocean vessels.
Further details can always be given to ocean vessels, on demand, by signal from lighthouses. The object of the code is to give at least 24 hours' warning of a gale (Force 8 by Beaufort Scale, or 40-45 m.p.h., mean velocity by Dines Anemometer) and also warnings of expected changes in the direction and force of the wind. Owing, however, to the uncertain movements of typhoons and to insufficient telegraphic observations, it will occasionally happen that signals 2 to 5 may be displayed without a gale occurring at Hongkong, or even Gap Rock, but the reverse is not likely to happen, except in the case of typhoons forming in the vicinity and travelling rapidly towards Hongkong, or of a located typhoon increasing its rate of progression abnormally.
Signal No. 1 is intended as a warning to "Stand By" and watch for the next signal. When it is hoisted after a black signal has been displayed it will mean that, on account of a change in the track of the typhoon, or for some other reason, a gale is no longer expected from the direction indicated by the last signal, and that another black signal may possibly be hoisted later.
The China Seas Code of Storm Signals was introduced in Hongkong on 1st June, 1920. It gives the latitude and longitude of the storm centre, its direction of motion, and a signal in- dicating the degree of accuracy with which it is believed the position of the centre has been located. A signal giving the time at which the warning was issued is hoisted at the mast-head, the position formerly occupied by the local typhoon signals,
HONGKONG TIME SIGNALS.
The Time Ball on Kowloon Signal Hill is dropped daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., except on Saturdays when it is dropped at 10 a.m. and 1 p m., and on Sundays and Holidays when it is -dropped at 10a.m. only.
The Ball is hoisted half-mast at the 55th minute and full mast at the 57th minute, Should the ball fail to drop at the correct time it will be lowered at 5 minutes past the hour and the ordinary routine repeated at the following hour, if possible,
Should the Time Ball be out of order, the above routine will b carried out with the flag "Z" on the Storm Signal mast,
Time Signals are also given at night by means of three white lamps mounted vertically on the Observatory wireless mast. From 8h 56m 0 to 9h 0m 0 p.m. the lamps are extinguished momentarily at the even seconds, except at the 2nd, 28th, 50th, 52nd and 54th of each minute.
The hours refer to Hongkong Standard Time (8 hours East of Greenwich).
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