ENG-1946 — Page 150

hurricane force, resulting in widespread damage and loss of life. Sixteen such disasters have occurred in the last sixty- three years.

Spells of bad weather with heavy rain and strong winds are normally experienced several times in each summer owing to the passage of typhoons at varying distances from the Colony.

The mean monthly temperature ranges from 59°F in February to 82°F in July, the average for the year being 72°F. The temperature very rarely rises above 95°F or falls below 40°F. In spring and summer the relative humidity of the atmosphere is persistently high, at times exceeding 95%, while in early winter it may fall as low as 20%. The mean monthly duration of sunshine ranges from 94 hours in March to 217 hours in October. The mean annual rainfall is 84.26 inches.

During the first four months of 1946, rainfall was deficient and with April completely dry the drought assumed serious proportions. Unusually heavy rain then fell in May and June but from July to November rainfall was again below normal; finally December produced more than three times the normal quota. The total for the year was 78.60 inches, some six inches below the normal. On 18th July a typhoon passed 30 miles to the south of Hong Kong causing seven hours of gales and a maximum gust of 106 m.p.h. at the Observatory.

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Photograph by Hedda Morrison