Hong Kong Observatory


The Hong Kong Observatory is a weather forecast agency of the government of Hong Kong. The Observatory forecasts the weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards. It also monitors and makes assessments on radiation levels in Hong Kong and provides other meteorological and geophysical services to meet the needs of the public and the shipping, aviation, industrial and engineering sectors.

Overview

The Observatory was established in 1883 as the Hong Kong Observatory by Sir George Bowen, the 9th Governor of Hong Kong, with as its first director. Early operations included meteorological and magnetic observations, a time service based on astronomical observations and a tropical cyclone warning service. The Observatory was renamed the Royal Observatory Hong Kong after obtaining a Royal Charter in 1912. The Observatory adopted the current name and emblem in 1997 after the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty from the UK to China.
The Hong Kong Observatory was built in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon in 1883. Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is so named based on this landmark. However, due to rapid urbanisation, it is now surrounded by skyscrapers. As a result of high greenhouse gas emissions, the reflection of sunlight from buildings and the surfaces of roads, as well as the reduced vegetation, it suffers from a heat island effect. This was demonstrated by the considerable increase in average temperatures recorded by the Observatory between 1980 and 2005. In 2002, the Observatory opened a resource centre on the 23rd Floor of the nearby Miramar Tower, where the public can buy Hong Kong Observatory publications and access other meteorological information.

Buildings in the observatory

1883 building

This building, built in 1883, is a rectangular two-storey plastered brick structure, it is characterised by arched windows and long verandas. It now houses the office of the directorate and to serve as a centre of administration of the Observatory. The building is a declared monument of Hong Kong since 1984.

The Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters

It is next to the 1883 Building; the Centenary Building, used as The Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, was erected in 1983 as a commemoration of the centennial service of the Observatory.

Directors

Over the years, the observatory has been led by:
#NameTenure StartTenure EndLength of TenureNotes
1Dr. William Doberck2 March 188312 September 1907
  • First Director
  • Longest serving Director
2Mr. Frederick George Figg13 September 190713 June 1912
3Mr. Thomas Folkes Claxton14 June 19128 July 1932
  • Second Director to serve over 20 years
    • 4Mr. Charles William Jeffries9 July 193220 June 1941
    5Mr. Benjamin Davis Evans21 June 194130 April 1946
  • Director through Japanese occupation
    • 6Mr. Graham Scudamore Percival Heywood1 May 19467 April 1956
    7Dr. Ian Edward Meni Watts8 April 195623 August 1965
    8Mr. Gordon John Bell24 August 196516 January 1981
    9Mr. John Edgar Peacock17 January 198114 March 1984
  • Last British Director
    • 10Mr. Patrick Sham Pak15 March 198425 May 1995
  • First local Hong Kong Chinese Director
    • 11Mr. Robert Lau Chi-kwan26 May 199521 December 1996
    12Dr. Lam Hung-kwan22 December 199613 March 2003
  • Director through the Handover
    • 13Mr. Lam Chiu-ying14 March 200310 May 2009
    14Dr. Lee Boon-ying11 May 200913 April 2011
    15Mr. Shun Chi-ming14 April 201114 February 2020
    16Dr. Cheng Cho-ming15 February 2020Incumbent

    Observatory logo

    From 1885 to 1948 the HKO used the coat of arms of the United Kingdom in various styles for its logo but in 1949 this was changed to a circular escutcheon featuring pictures of weather observation tools, with the year 1883 at the bottom and a St Edward's Crown at the top. In 1981 the logo was changed to the old coat of arms, and in 1997, with the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the current logo was introduced to replace the colonial symbols.

    Outreach activities and publicity

    The Friends of the Observatory, an interest group set up in 1996 to help the Observatory to promote Hong Kong Observatory and its services to the public, provide science extension activities in relation to the works of the Observatory and foster communication between the Observatory and the public, now has more than 7,000 individual and family members in total. Activities organised for the Friends of the Observatory include regular science lectures and visits to Observatory's facilities. Newsletters were also published for members once every four months. Voluntary docents from this interest group lead a "HKO Guided Tour" to let the public who applied for visit in advance to visit the headquarters of the Observatory, and learn about the history, environment and meteorological science applied by the Observatory.
    The Observatory regularly organises visits for the secondary school students. This outreach programme was extended to primary school students, the elderly and the community groups in the recent years. Talks are also organised in primary school during the winter time, when the officials are less busy in the severe climate issues and watchouts. A roving exhibition for the public was also mounted in shopping malls in 2003. To promote understanding of the services provided by the Observatory and their benefits to the community, over 50 press releases were issued and 7 media briefings were held in 2003. From time to time, the Observatory also works closely with schools for a series of events, including with the Geography Society of PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College between 2008 and 2009.