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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, visited the Hong Kong Observatory this afternoon (June 14) to learn more about its daily operation and the various services provided by the department.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Raymond Wong, Mr Tang was briefed by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Mr Shun Chi-ming, and the directorate staff on the department's latest developments and its aviation weather services.
Mr Tang was introduced to the various weather services provided for the public, including weather forecasts and different types of warnings, astronomical and climatological information services, as well as radiation monitoring and assessment. He was impressed with the department's efforts in striving to provide people-oriented quality services in meteorology and related fields and to enhance the society's capability in natural disaster prevention and response, through science, innovation and partnership.
During a tour of the Central Forecasting Office, the Monitoring and Assessment Centre, and the TV studio, Mr Tang was briefed on the round-the-clock weather information disseminated to the public, contingency measures on emergency incidents, and the procedure for circulating the latest weather information during inclement weather.
Later, Mr Tang toured the Earthquake Monitoring and Tsunami Warning Centre and was briefed on details of collecting and analysing real time seismic data from seismological stations in Hong Kong and around the world, as well as the process of disseminating earthquake information to the public.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Tang chatted with staff representatives from various grades at a tea reception. He said he greatly appreciated colleagues' efforts and encouraged them to continue providing professional and high-quality services to the public.
Ends/Friday, June 14, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:18
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