TNAG-2594-FCO40-3782-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 96

1998-03-06

4.1.5

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Statement by Acting Director of Royal Observatory, Mr Robert Lau, at a

press briefing today (May 8, 1992):

I just want to give this statement to clear the air basically. Between

6 am and 7 am, Hong Kong received 110 mm of rain. That is the highest

hourly rainfall ever recorded in Hong Kong. It has never happened

before. So much rain fallen in one hour had caused the flooding and

traffic commotions this morning. Unfortunately, we were not able to

forecast this torrential rain episode, not to this extreme intensity,

not to have pinpointed its precise timing to between 6 and 7 am. This

despite the fact that during the week, we have, in our outlook.

indicated a deterioration in weather. Yesterday we forecast heavy rain

for today. Last night, at 11.15 pm, we issued a thunderstorm warning.

Nonetheless, we couldn't even by

we couldn't even by 5.30 am this morning be able to tell

that we are to expect over 100 mm between 6 and 7 o'clock.

The events at the weather office this morning round about 6 o'clock

are roughly as follows:

Between midnight and 6 am, only 7 mm of rain were recorded. Towards 6

am on a weather radar, we could see a band of rain approaching Hong

Kong, fast moving one and at that time the assessment was that it

probably would yield 20 or 30 mm of rain. Still the forecaster saw fit.

to alert me and within minutes I was at the forecast office and by 6

am the flood warning went out. The next consideration then was the

landslip warning which meant I had to consult the Principal Government

Geotechnical Engineer. By 6.20. the landslip warning was issued. As

soon as the dissemination of that was completed, I contacted the

Director of Education that was round about 6.40. In consultation wit

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