The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Environmental Affairs visited the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) today (November 5) to understand the latest development of HKO’s work on monitoring and forecasting weather, as well as providing meteorological services.
Members first received a briefing on the operations of HKO from the Director of HKO, Dr Chan Pak-wai, and visited the Central Forecasting Office which is responsible for round-the-clock dissemination of weather information and various forecasts/warnings on inclement weather to the public. Members exchanged views with the Director of HKO and the Commissioner for Climate Change, Mr Wong Chuen-fai, on various matters including accuracy of weather forecasts, measures to cope with extreme weather conditions, as well as expansion of meteorological services and facilities.
Members then visited the Radiation Monitoring and Assessment Centre. The Centre monitors ambient radiation levels in Hong Kong, and organises training and exercises for other government departments on the contingency plan for nuclear emergencies. Members also went to the Earthquake Monitoring cum Tsunami Warning Centre and gained a better understanding of how the Centre collects and analyses real-time data from local and global seismological stations network, as well as warning messages issued by regional tsunami warning centres for dissemination of related information to the public.
Members also toured HKO's TV Studio to understand the procedures of and challenges encountered in TV weather programmes production and weather briefings under inclement weather conditions. During the visit to HKO’s History Room, Members observed various types of old observation instruments and records of typhoon hazard, advancement of meteorological technologies and the spirit of innovation of HKO's staff.
Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of Panel on Environmental Affairs, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Mr Chan Siu-hung; Panel members Dr Lo Wai-kwok and Mr Robert Lee; as well as non-Panel members Mr Chan Chun-ying and Mr Yim Kong.
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