Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals
3 is issued, government agencies, schools, financial markets, and most of the private sector close their operations.
In May 1884, the Hong Kong Observatory began warning of surrounding tropical cyclones by notifying newspapers and telegraph companies.
It used an arrangement of red drums, cones, and balls to indicate the presence of a tropical cyclone around Hong Kong and its relative position.
The signal was hoisted on a mast in front of the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Barracks.
[1] In August 1884, the Hong Kong Observatory began using a "typhoon gun" to warn residents of hazardous wind conditions.
[1][2] In 1890, a black color began to be used with the drum, cone, and ball visual signal to indicate the distance of a storm from Hong Kong.
In February 1897, the storm signals created by Admiral Robert FitzRoy in 1861 were introduced in Hong Kong with a minor modification.
The night signal consisted of three differently-colored lanterns hung on a triangular frame, pointing upwards or downwards.
The hurricane signal was accompanied by three explosives fired at the Tsim Sha Tsui police barracks and Harbour Office.
[1] The local signal code was revised on 1 March 1931 following the recommendations at the Conference of Directors of Far Eastern Weather Services in 1930.
In 1935, the signal system was revised as agreed between the Observatory and the Central Weather Bureau of Manila.
Occasionally, when Hong Kong was under the combined effect of a monsoon and a tropical cyclone, the Strong Monsoon Signal might be replaced by tropical cyclone signals and vice versa, depending on the synoptic conditions at the time.
Letters and questionnaires were sent to shipping companies, government departments, and other organisations to find out whether the majority of people in Hong Kong wanted to change the existing storm warning signals to make them simpler in that increasing signal number would indicate increasing winds.
Initially, the local day signals were displayed at the mast head of the storm signal mast on Blackhead Hill, the Harbour Office, HMS Tamar, Green Island signal mast, the flagstaff of the premises of Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company in Kowloon, the flagstaff on the premises of the Standard Oil Company in Lai Chi Kok, and the flagstaff near the Field Officer's Quarters at Lei Yue Mun.
Night signals were displayed at the tower of the Railway Station, on HMS Tamar and on the Harbour Office flagstaff.
Supplementary signals in the form of a cone were also displayed at Gap Rock, Waglan Island, Stanley, Aberdeen, Shau Kei Wan, Sai Kung, Sha Tau Kok, and Tai Po whenever local signals were displayed in the harbour.
Most of the signal stations were located at government buildings of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Marine Department.
In 1963, a visual signal was completed at Lau Fau Shan Police Station in Deep Bay.
In 1964, a storm signal station established at the Marine Licensing Office, Shau Kei Wan, was brought into operation.
The number of signal stations in Hong Kong peaked at 42 according to the Observatory's 1968–1969 annual report.
With the development of alternative communication channels in disseminating weather information and warnings, the signal stations were progressively closed in the late 1970s.
The signal stations at Waglan Island and Marine Department Port Communication Centre ceased to operate with effect from 30 June 1988.
The signals are now preserved as historical exhibits, such as those displayed at the Observatory Headquarters and Cheung Chau Meteorological Station.
Non-essential workers are released from work in a staggered manner so as to avoid overwhelming public transportation.
[7] The Hong Kong Observatory was criticised during Typhoon Prapiroon in 2006, when conditions in urban areas were much more severe than those on the harbour, which had justified only a No.
The current eight reference anemometer stations include Cheung Chau, Hong Kong International Airport, Sai Kung, Kai Tak, Lau Fau Shan, Tsing Yi Shell Oil Depot, Sha Tin, and Ta Kwu Ling.
Hong Kong has similar official five-level definition warning signals, which use descriptions of winds taken from the Beaufort Scale.
The Hong Kong Observatory website gives live updates of issue and cancel times for signals.
Unexpected intensification of the tropical cyclone on accelerated movement closer to Hong Kong may reduce the warning period.
When one of these signals is issued, ferries generally stop running and all schools and law courts are closed.
