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GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
formed over the western Pacific about 650 miles east of Manila on August 17 and moved steadily west-north-west. Early on August 21, Shirley changed to a north-westerly course when it was centred about 150 miles south-east of Hong Kong. During the afternoon, Shirley intensified into a typhoon and the eye of the storm as revealed by the Observatory radar was approximately circular in shape with a diameter of about 50 miles. Typhoon Shirley passed over Hong Kong between 7.00 and 9.30 p.m. on August 21 and dissipated slowly over Kwangtung. In Hong Kong, hurricane force winds were experienced in places and the maximum gusts recorded were 110 knots at Tate's Cairn, 113 knots at Waglan Island and 72 knots at the Royal Observatory. The minimum pressure of 968.6 mb at the Royal Observatory was the lowest ever recorded in August.
On August 31, Severe tropical storm Bess formed near Pratas Island and moved slowly westwards, passing about 180 miles south of Hong Kong on September 2. Due to the slow movement of the storm, strong winds persisted for almost two days in Hong Kong and the number 3 local storm signal was hoisted for a record period of 71 hours and 45 minutes. Bess turned south-westwards on September 3 and entered the coast of Vietnam near Danang during the morning of September 6.
Typhoon Wendy was first reported over the Pacific near the Mariana Islands on August 30. It moved north-westwards at first but turned towards the west on September 2. During the following seven days Wendy continued its westerly course and finally dissipated over the Gulf of Tonkin. The storm passed about 70 miles south of Hong Kong on September 8 causing several hours of strong winds.
Typhoon Elaine formed on September 24 near the Caroline Islands and moved in a generally north-westerly direction crossing the northern tip of Luzon on September 28 and entering the South China coast about 140 miles east of Hong Kong on October 1. Strong winds were experienced in the Colony on September 29 but the winds moderated during the same night when Elaine weakened as a cold air-stream entered the circulation from the north.
The last three months of the year were all warmer and with less rainfall than normal. Although several cold fronts crossed Hong
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