{{Short description|Hong Kong meteorological agency}} {{More footnotes needed|date=April 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Hong Kong Observatory | nativename_a = {{lang|zh|香港天文台}} | logo = Hong Kong Observatory Logo.svg | logo_caption = | seal = | seal_width = | seal_caption = | headquarters = 134A [[Nathan Road]], [[Tsim Sha Tsui]], [[Kowloon]], [[Hong Kong]] | formed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1883|3|2}}<ref name="hkohistory">{{cite web|url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/abouthko/history.htm#|title=History of the Hong Kong Observatory|date=20 May 2011|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|access-date=7 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814175249/https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/abouthko/history.htm|archive-date=2025-08-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> | preceding = | dissolved = | superseding = | jurisdiction = | employees = 315 (March 2018)<ref name="hkbudget">{{cite web |url=https://www.budget.gov.hk/2019/eng/pdf/head168.pdf|title=Head 168 – HONG KONG OBSERVATORY|publisher=[[Brand Hong Kong]]|work=Hong Kong Observatory|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref> | budget = 381.4m [[HKD]] (2019–20)<ref name="hkbudget" /> | chief1_name = Dr. Chan Pak-wai | chief1_position = Director of the Hong Kong Observatory | chief2_name = | chief2_position = | chief3_name = | chief3_position = | chief4_name = | chief4_position = | chief5_name = | chief5_position = | chief6_name = | chief6_position = | chief7_name = | chief7_position = | chief8_name = | chief8_position = | chief9_name = | chief9_position = | parent_department = | parent_agency = [[Environment and Ecology Bureau]] | child1_agency = | child2_agency = | website = {{url|www.hko.gov.hk}}<br>{{url|www.weather.gov.hk}} }} {{Chinese | c = {{linktext|lang=zh|香港|天文台}} | j = Hoeng1 gong2 tin1 man4 toi4 | y = Hēung góng tīn màhn tòih | p = Xiānggǎng Tiānwéntái }} {{Politics of Hong Kong}}
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 == [[File:Hong Kong Observatory.jpg|right|thumb|The 1883 building]] [[File:Centenary Building - TST Observatory, HK - 2007-03-25 09h46m DSC07451.JPG|thumb|The Hong Kong Observatory Centenary Building]] The Observatory was established on 2 March 1883 as the Hong Kong Observatory by Sir [[George Bowen]], the 9th [[Governor of Hong Kong]], with {{ill|William Doberck|sv}} (1852–1941) 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''' ({{zh|c=皇家香港天文台}}) after obtaining a [[Royal Charter]] in 1912.<ref name="hkohistory" /> The Observatory adopted the current name and emblem in 1997 after the [[Handover of Hong Kong|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 [[skyscraper]]s. 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. [[File:Hong Kong Observatory Grounds.JPG|right|thumb|Hong Kong Observatory Grounds]]
== 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 serves as the centre of administration of the Observatory.<ref>[http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_24.php Hong Kong Observatory]</ref> The building is a [[declared monuments of Hong Kong|declared monument of Hong Kong]] since 1984.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hong Kong Observatory, Tsim Sha Tsui|url=http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_24.php|access-date=22 September 2013|work=Antiquities and Monuments Office|publisher=Government of Hong Kong}}</ref><ref name=EPD>{{cite web|title=Annex I Listing of Declared Monuments|url=http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/textonly/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html|date=1 January 1999|access-date=10 March 2013|work=Environmental Protection Department|publisher=Government of Hong Kong|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028021126/http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html|archive-date=28 October 2009}}</ref>
=== The Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters === This building 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.<ref>[http://www.hko.gov.hk/abouthko/history/buildings_e.htm Hong Kong Observatory: Buildings]</ref>
== Directors == Over the years, the observatory has been led by [[File:HK Observatory Logo.jpg|thumb|Signs of Hong Kong Observatory in different years.]] {| class="sortable wikitable" |+ !# !Name !Tenure Start !Tenure End !Length of Tenure !Notes |- |1 |William Doberck |2 March 1883 |12 September 1907 |{{age in years and days|1883|3|2|1907|9|12|sep=and|duration=on}} | * First Director * Longest serving Director |- |2 |Frederick George Figg |13 September 1907 |13 June 1912 |{{age in years and days|1907|9|13|1912|6|13|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |3 |Thomas Folkes Claxton |14 June 1912 |8 July 1932 |{{age in years and days|1912|6|14|1932|7|8|sep=and|duration=on}} | * Second Director to serve over 20 years |- |4 |Charles William Jeffries |9 July 1932 |20 June 1941 |{{age in years and days|1932|7|9|1941|6|20|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |5 |Benjamin Davis Evans |21 June 1941 |30 April 1946 |{{age in years and days|1941|6|21|1946|4|30|sep=and|duration=on}} | * Director through [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong|Japanese occupation]] |- |6 |Graham Scudamore Percival Heywood |1 May 1946 |7 April 1956 |{{age in years and days|1946|5|1|1956|4|7|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |7 |Ian Edward Mein Watts |8 April 1956 |23 August 1965 |{{age in years and days|1956|4|8|1965|8|23|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |8 |Gordon John Bell |24 August 1965 |16 January 1981 |{{age in years and days|1965|8|24|1981|1|16|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |9 |John Edgar Peacock |17 January 1981 |14 March 1984 |{{age in years and days|1981|1|17|1984|3|14|sep=and|duration=on}} | * Last British Director |- |10 |Patrick Sham Pak |15 March 1984 |25 May 1995 |{{age in years and days|1984|3|15|1995|5|25|sep=and|duration=on}} | * First local Hong Kong Chinese Director |- |11 |Robert Lau Chi-kwan |26 May 1995 |21 December 1996 |{{age in years and days|1995|5|26|1996|12|21|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |12 |Lam Hung-kwan |22 December 1996 |13 March 2003 |{{age in years and days|1996|12|22|2003|3|13|sep=and|duration=on}} | * Director through [[Handover of Hong Kong|the Handover]] |- |13 |[[Lam Chiu Ying]] |14 March 2003 |10 May 2009 |{{age in years and days|2003|3|14|2009|5|10|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |14 |Lee Boon-ying |11 May 2009 |13 April 2011 |{{age in years and days|2009|5|11|2011|4|13|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |15 |Shun Chi-ming |14 April 2011 |14 February 2020 |{{age in years and days|2011|4|14|2020|2|11|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |16 |Cheng Cho-ming |15 February 2020 |12 March 2023 |{{age in years and days|2020|2|15|2023|3|12|sep=and|duration=on}} | |- |'''17''' |'''Chan Pak-wai''' |'''13 March 2023''' |'''Incumbent''' |{{ayd|13 March 2023}} | |} :<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Directors |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/abouthko/history/directors.htm |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.hko.gov.hk |language=en}}</ref>
==Observatory logo==
From 1885 to 1948, the HKO used the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|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 [[handover of Hong Kong|transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong]], the current logo was introduced to replace the colonial symbols.
== Outreach activities and publicity == [[File:hongkongobservatory.jpg|thumb|Young visitors at the Observatory]] [[File:Royal Observatory HK.jpg|thumb|A sign with the old name before 1997]] 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 (named "Weather Chit Chat", {{zh|t_hk=談天說地|links=no}}) 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 secondary school students. This outreach programme was extended to primary school students, the elderly and community groups in recent years. Talks are also organised in primary schools during the winter time, when 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.
== See also == *[[Central Weather Bureau]] (Taiwan) *[[China Meteorological Administration]] *[[Climate of Hong Kong]] *[[Hong Kong rainstorm warning signals]] *[[Hong Kong Time]] *[[Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals]] *[[Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Hong Kong Observatory}} * {{Official website|https://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm}} * {{cite web |url= https://www.weather.org.hk/english |title= Weather Underground of Hong Kong }} * {{cite web |url= https://visithk.weather.gov.hk/index_e.htm |title= Hong Kong Weather Information for Tourists |publisher= Weather Underground }} * {{cite web |url= https://worldweather.wmo.int/en <!-- aka http://www.worldweather.org --> |title= World Weather Information Service (WWIS) |publisher= [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]] }} * {{cite web |url= https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/ |title= Weather Around the World |website= Time and Date AS }} * {{cite web |url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/world |title= World weather |publisher= MET Office }}
{{Government of Hong Kong}} {{HKIA}} {{National Meteorological Organisations}} {{Commerce and Economic Development Bureau}}
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[[Category:Climate of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Declared monuments of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Landmarks in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Geophysical observatories]] [[Category:Governmental meteorological agencies in Asia]] [[Category:Hong Kong government departments and agencies|Observatory]] [[Category:Meteorological observatories]] [[Category:Organisations based in Hong Kong with former royal patronage]] [[Category:Tsim Sha Tsui]] [[Category:1883 establishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Government buildings completed in 1883]] [[Category:British colonial architecture in Hong Kong]]