Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13
Question : The Hong Kong Observatory has enhanced the development of mobile platforms (such as iOS and Android platforms) in recent years to disseminate the latest weather information. Please provide the details for developing the above mobile platform applications and the expenditure involved. Asked by : Hon. HO Chung-tai, Raymond Reply : To allow public access to the latest weather information anytime, anywhere, the Observatory has developed an application on popular mobile platforms, namely “MyObservatory” (with updated versions being laid on in line with advances in technology). The application provides personalised weather services, thereby allowing mobile phone users to obtain weather information specific to their locations, including temperature, relative humidity, rainfall amount, wind direction, wind speed and weather photos etc. In addition to basic weather forecasts and warnings, “MyObservatory” also provides in-depth information such as rainfall distribution map, satellite and radar imageries, map of tropical cyclone track, tide and lightning locations etc. for interested users. The Hong Kong Observatory deploys existing resources to develop the “MyObservatory” weather information service. The expenditure has been subsumed into the provision for 2011-12 for the Observatory. It is difficult to quantify such expenditure separately.
Question : Regarding weather services, please inform this Committee: a) the number of severe weather warnings issued in the past five years for causes such as tropical cyclone, storm surge, rainstorm, landslide, flooding, thunderstorm, wind shear, fire danger, very hot and cold weather. Please break down the number by year. b) Please provide details on the provision of the latest information and tools for monitoring sand and dust weather. What are the current manpower and expenditure involved? Asked by : Hon. KAM Nai-wai Reply : a) The various weather warnings issued by the Hong Kong Observatory in the past five years (2007-2011) are listed in the appended table. b) At present, the Observatory provides, for public consumption, the latest information on sand and dust weather mainly through its website (http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/sanddust/ sdawx.html). The webpages display weather reports about sand and dust conditions near Hong Kong in the past few days, satellite images and the forecast trajectory of air mass movement. These data are provided to help users understand the evolution of sand and dust weather. The webpages also provide relevant background information, such as factors causing the inception of sand and dust weather. The Observatory used existing resources and manpower to develop and operate the Sand and Dust Weather Information webpages. The expenditure has been subsumed into the 2011-12 provision for the Observatory. It is difficult to quantify such expenditure separately.
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