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The Environment

Geophysical Services

The observatory monitors earthquakes in the vicinity of Hong Kong and around the world. It posts information about these occurrences on its website for the public, through the media and other social media platforms, as well as through SMS and emails for special users.

Astronomical Services

The observatory provides information about astronomical occurrences such as solar and lunar eclipses. It also publishes astronomical almanacs, including the traditional Chinese calendar and various types of astronomical and geophysical information. In June, the observatory co- operated with the Hong Kong Space Museum to webcast a rare astronomical event, the transit of Venus across the face of the sun, attracting over 1.98 million page visits.

Official Time Standard

As Hong Kong's official time keeper, the observatory maintains a Time Standard that is accurate to within one ten-millionth of a second per day and contributes to the determination of Co- ordinated Universal Time by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Time checks are available to the public through its Dial-a-Weather System, local radio stations, web clocks and the internet network time service, with the latter handling about 4.3 billion checks in 2012, about three times that in 2011.

Public Education

To promote public awareness of hazardous weather and climate change, the observatory carries out a broad range of educational and outreach activities. The 'Community Weather Information Network' (Co-WIN), managed by the observatory in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, fosters close co-operation with schools and the community to enhance weather education in Hong Kong. The 'Community Weather Observing Scheme, a new initiative of Co-WIN, was launched in 2012, providing a new platform for sharing weather reports posted by members of the public via personal computers or mobile phones.

Websites

Environment Bureau: www.enb.gov.hk

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: www.afcd.gov.hk

Environmental Protection Department: www.epd.gov.hk

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: www.emsd.gov.hk

Sustainable Development Division: www.susdev.gov.hk

Council for Sustainable Development: www.susdev.org.hk

Civil Engineering and Development Department: www.cedd.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory: www.hko.gov.hk and www.weather.gov.hk MyObservatory: www.weather.gov.hk/myobservatory_e.htm MyWorldWeather: worldweather.wmo.int/myworldweather

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