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HK Observatory faces PR storm, HK govt clarifies (again) commerce uninvolved

HK Observatory faces PR storm, HK govt clarifies (again) commerce uninvolved

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With a typhoon fast approaching Hong Kong city, The Observatory has found itself in a bit of a PR storm after it was accused of delaying the issue of the right rainstorm warning signal last Friday (8 October), and changing predictions several times for the duration of the Number 8 signal last Saturday (9 October). 

In response to floating accusations on whether the warning from the Observatory was made with economical or commercial considerations, the government has clarified that the warnings were issued based on scientific decisions and not commercial ones. 

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said in a LegCo meeting that although The Observatory sits under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, it does not consider economic or commercial factors before deciding issuing weather warnings, further clarifying that he was not involved in making the decisions too. 

Hong Kong was hit by tropical storm Lionrock last Friday and Saturday. On 8 October, many citizens complained that The Observatory did not issue a black rainstorm warning earlier, resulting in citizens heading to work under bad weather conditions. Also, the Number 8 typhoon signal remained in force for 22 hours as The Observatory delayed the decision to issue the Number 3 warning several times. 

Meanwhile, with the tropical cyclone Kompasu edging closer to Hong Kong, The Observatory has said that it will consider issuing the typhoon signal Number 8 later this afternoon. According to the South China Morning Post, Observatory director Cheng Cho-ming said when Kompasu arrives, The Observatory expects there will be sudden changes in the weather. To better monitoring the situation and provide better services, The Observatory will enlist more staff to help and hopefully improve its services. Cheng also noted that climate change was making tropical cyclones stronger, wetter and harder to forecast.

The Observatory issued the Number 3 warning for Kompasu at 12.40am on Tuesday as it came within 800 kilometers of the city. It is expected that Kompasu will be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday.  To prepare for another typhoon in less than a week, a lot of citizens have flocked to supermarkets to stock up food and necessities. For example, vegetables, bread and instant noddles are some of the products that have been snapped up by citizens, according to HK01. Supermarkets in major residential districts, such as Tsuen Wan, Shatin and Wong Tai Sin were fraught with customers who bought a lot of food to prepare for the typhoon. 


Photo Courtesy: 123rf

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