Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 238

HONGKONG.

No.

10 1908

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONGKONG OBSERVATORY, FOR THE YEAR 1907.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

The comparison of weather-forecasts, issued daily about noon, with the weather subse- quently experienced, has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (compare Annual Report for 1896 § 5). The results are as follows:

Success 57 per cent., partial success 32 per cent., failure 1 per cent., partial failure 10 per cent.

Following the method used in meteorological offices, and taking the sun of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sum of total and partial failure as a measure

of failure, it follows that 89 per cent. of the weather-forecasts were successful in 1907,

2. The China Coast Meteorological Register was printed every morning at the Obser- vatory by the Government Printers. About 70 copies were distributed in the City daily at about 1 p.m. Information regarding storms was also telegraphed to Hongkong and ex- hibited on the various notice boards as often as such telegrams could be justified by the weather observations received. This occurred on 101 days in 1907.

3. In connection with storm-warnings the staff was increased in August by the appoint- ment of another computer. This permits of a computer being on duty at night throughout the year.

4. The following signals in connection with typhoons, were hoisted during the year: Red South Cone and Red Drum twice, Red South Cone alone once, Red South Cone and Red Ball once, Red Ball alone once, Black South Cone and Black Drum once, Black South Cone alone four times, Black South Cone and Black Ball four times, Black Ball alone once, Black North Cone and Black Ball once. The No. 1 night signal was hoisted five times, and the No. 2 night signal eight times.