Hong Kong Observatory signs MOU with Thai Meteorological Department to strengthen meteorological collaboration (with photo)
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     The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Mr Shun Chi-ming, and the Director-General of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), Mr Wanchai Sakudomchai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation between the two organisations in Bangkok, Thailand today (September 18) to strengthen meteorological collaboration between the two places.
 
     The HKO and the TMD have a long history of co-operation, which can be dated back to 1970 with the establishment of the Hong Kong-Bangkok circuit for the international exchange of meteorological information under the Global Telecommunications System of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). At the high level meeting before the signing ceremony, both parties agreed to pursue collaboration in a number of areas including windshear detection, thunderstorm nowcasting, co-ordination in the issuance of significant weather warnings for aviation, and the training of meteorological personnel.
 
     Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Shun said, “Under the MOU, the HKO and the TMD will strengthen collaboration. As members of the WMO, Thailand and Hong Kong, China will play more important roles in fostering regional and international meteorological co-operation to ensure public safety and contribute to the betterment of society. I look forward to continual developments of even closer collaboration between the two organisations in the future.”
 
     Mr Sakudomchai said, “The signing of the MOU between HKO and TMD will deepen our co-operation and significantly contribute to the meteorological operations and development. This helps ensure the safety of lives and properties, and supports sustainable development in the socio-economic and business arena.”
 
     To foster international co-operation, the HKO has signed MOUs in the past several years with the national meteorological services of a number of countries including France, Korea and the Philippines.

Ends/Monday, September 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:30

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