ENG-1955 — Page 255

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

heavy rain, normally occur several times each year owing to the passage of these storms at varying distances from the Colony. Gales due to typhoons occur on the average about once a year, but it is only rarely that the centre of a fully- developed typhoon passes sufficiently close to Hong Kong to produce winds of hurricane force. The last occasion when a severe typhoon passed close to Hong Kong was in July 1946.

THE YEAR'S WEATHER

In 1955 92.53 inches of rain were recorded in Hong Kong, 7.77 inches above normal. However, it was also the sunniest year since measurements of this kind were started at the Royal Observatory in 1885. The total of 2,279 hours of sunshine is 73 hours more than the previous record (1925) and 327 hours more than the average.

Until the end of March, the Colony suffered the most prolonged and severe drought since records were started more than 100 years ago. Between 5 and 12 January an intense cold spell brought the temperature down to 37.6°F at the Royal Observatory, the lowest for 55 years, and to 26.5°F at Sek Kong in the New Territories, the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Colony.

On the evening of 1 April, during the rains which broke the drought, a severe thundersquall with recorded gusts of 50 knots hit the island of Cheung Chau, overturning 36 inshore fishing vessels and sinking 3 larger junks.

The first four months were exceptionally sunny and spring fogs were rare. The summer months, May to August, apart from an absence of typhoons and being wetter than usual, were unexceptional. September, however, was the hottest September on record, with temperatures reaching 90°F on twelve days. The last three months provided fine cool weather, with more sunshine than usual.

GEOLOGY

Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. characterized by numerous rugged and irregular islands with deeply dissected peninsulas. A general picture of the area is that of an upland terrain which has been invaded by the sea.

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