Hong Kong inks meteorological pact to strengthen disaster preparedness

It will collaborate with the World Meteorological Organisation.

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) that will see the SAR lend support the initiative to set up the global multi-hazard alert system.

The HKO has been working to update the World Weather Information Service website to aggregate warning signals related to high-impact weather, water and climate events issued by organisations around the world. This will enable members of the public and organisations like humanitarian agencies to monitor natural disasters and formulate appropriate disaster risk reduction responses.

"As a member of the WMO, Hong Kong, China, will play a more significant role in fostering regional and international meteorological co-operation to ensure public safety and reduce disaster risk. The HKO is very pleased to collaborate with the WMO in establishing the GMAS to help minimise loss due to natural disasters,” Shun Chi-ming, director of HKO said in a statement.

"The signing of the MoU between the HKO and the WMO will further strengthen our co-operation and significantly contributes to the global meteorological information services,” professor Petteri Taalas of the WMO said. “This marks an important step in taking forward the GMAS initiative, contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction."

The SAR grapples with some of the world’s most dramatic storms formed over the Pacific Ocean with supertyphoon Mangkhut the latest to carve a path of destruction in Hong Kong in early September.