Cloud over Hong Kong storm signal system

Citation

(2007), "Cloud over Hong Kong storm signal system", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 16 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2007.07316aab.001

Cloud over Hong Kong storm signal system

Cloud over Hong Kong storm signal systemObservatory attacked over typhoon response

THE Hong Kong Observatory will review its storm signal system after a barrage of criticism following its response to winds generated by typhoon Prapiroon.

The observatory kept its storm signal at typhoon 3 last Thursday, meaning it was safe to go to work and for ferries to keep operating.

This was despite winds gusting at more than 200 kmph which causing flight chaos at Hong Kong International Airport, property damage and stormy seas.

Cathay Pacific Airways took the unprecedented step of cancelling all its flights, while Dragonair scrapped 63 flights and other airlines did the same.

Stranded

More than 10,000 passengers were stranded at Hong Kong International Airport. Flights from nearly Shenzhen, Macau and Guangzhou were also disrupted by strong winds and torrential rain caused by the typhoon.

Elsewhere in Hong Kong, more than ten containers toppled over at the river trade terminal in Tuen Mun, bunker operations were disrupted and sea conditions affected ferry services.

Fast ferries between Hong Kong and Macau and cities in southern China were later suspended, trapping hundreds of passengers, while more than 90 seafarers on two Chinese barges were rescued by Hong Kong government helicopters.

There was also property damage with the windows blown out of several offices including those at shipbroker Simpson Spence and Young.

In the Lloyd’s List office, which is in the same building as SSY, the differential air pressure caused by the winds rattled windows and doors.

Outdated

Leading the criticism against the observatory, meteorologist Clarence Fong Chi-kong said weather officials used an outdated system which only measures sustained winds speeds in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong’s inner port area. He said the observatory had put the public at risk and added: “Very high wind speeds were recorded in some parts of the city. We wonder why the observatory still did not issue the No 8 signal.”

Under the present system the observatory uses four main storm categories – typhoon signals 1, 3, 8 and 10 – based on wind speed. The storm classification was kept signal 3 meaning sustained wind speeds of between 41 and 62 kmph in Victoria Harbour throughout Thursday.

This was despite wind speeds of 209 kmph being recorded at Ngong Ping, close to Hong Kong International Airport, and 108 kmph at Tsing Yi near Kwai Chung container port.

Responding to the complaints the observatory confirmed it would reassess the way storm signals were evaluated to improve the system.

In southern China typhoon Prapiroon, named after a Thai rain god and the fifth major storm to hit southern China this year, made landfall near Yangjiang, 190 km west of Hong Kong, at about 1920 hours last Thursday.

Closed

The oil port of Zhanjiang, which can handle 300,000 dwt very large crude carriers, remained closed on Friday, said Zhanjiang Port Group, while scores of ships took shelter from the storm.

Huangpu and Zhuhai ports were also closed although they were expected to reopen over the weekend. Ferry services were suspended as the typhoon, later downgraded to a severe tropical storm, hit the Guangdong coast.

(Lloyds Casualty Week, 11 August 2006)