Directory_and_Chronicle_1928 — Page 389

HONG KONG STORM SIGNAL CODES

Storm Warnings are issued by the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong, by means of Local and Non-Local Storm Signal Codes. The Local Code is as follows:--

Signal. Symbol.

DAY SIGNALS,

Meaning.

1.-Red T-A typhoon exists which may possibly cause a gale at Hong Kong 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.-

""

"2

"

"}

22

South (S.E. to S.W.)

"J

East (N.E. to S.E.)

"J

"

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 is accompanied by three explosive bombs fired, at intervals of 10 seconds, ats the Water Police Station and repeated at the Harbour Office.

The signals are lowered when it is considered that all danger is over. The Day Signals are displayed at the following places:-

Royal Observatory. Harbour Office. H M.S. Tamar, Green Island. Gough Hill.

H'kong. & K'loon. Wharf & Godown Co., Kowloon. Standard Oil Co., Lai-chi-kok.

Field Officer's Quarters, Lyemun. NIGHT SIGNALS. (Lamps.) White

White

Green

Green

White 12 White 2 Green 3 White 4 Green 5 White

White

White

Green The Night Signals are displayed, at sunset, at the following places:

Royal Observatory. Harbour Office. Railway Station. H.M.S. Tamar. They have the same signification as the day signals. Signal No. 7 is accompanied by explosive bombs as above, in the event of the information conveyed by this signal being first published at night.

Green

White

Green 62 Green Green

Red 7 Green

Rod

Gough Hill.

―

A translation of both Day and Night Signals is displayed at the General Post Office and at the Upper Tram Station.

SUPPLEMENTARY WARNINGS.

When local signals are displayed in the Harbour a Cone will be exhibited at the following stations:

Gap Rock

Sau Ki Wan

Sha Tau Kok Waglan

Sai Kung

Tai Po

Stanley Aberdeen

Further details can always be given to ocean vessels, on demand, by signal from lighthouses, or by wireless telegraphy,

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 Hong Kong, or even at Gap Rock, but the reverse is not likely to happen, except in the case of typhoons forming in the vicinity and travelling rapidly towards Hong Kong, or should the direction of motion of a typhoon alter, or its rate of progression increase, 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, NON-LOCAL SIGNALS.

The Non-Local, or "China Seas" Code of Storm Signals gives the latitude and longitude of the storm centre, its direction of motion, and a signal indicating 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.

Copies of the code may be obtained on application to the Observatory.

HONG KONG 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 10 a.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 be 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 55m 0 to 9h 0m 0 p.m. the lamps are extinguished momentarily every second, except at the 28th, 29th and 54th to 59th second of each minute.

The hours refer to Hong Kong Standard Time (8 hours East of Greenwich). ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONG KONG.

T. F. CLAXTON, Director.

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