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Ten meteorologists from Bhutan, Ethiopia, Gambia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Oman, Pakistan, Saint Lucia and Thailand have completed a training course on design and operation of meteorological warning systems.
The course was organised by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), and ran from December 5 to 9, 2005.
This is the eighth time that HKO has organised and conducted professional training courses for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The objective of the course is to enhance meteorological warning and public weather services around the world.
A participant from Ethiopia Mr Abebe Yeshanew said the achievements of the HKO in the provision of public weather service had won wide acclaim from WMO and the international meteorological community. "HKO, in particular, has ample experience in severe weather warnings. HKO・s work is well thought out and meets the expectations of the public. This course is very useful and I have benefited considerably from it.；
Mr Lam Chiu-ying, Director of HKO, said that in recent years, HKO had extended its efforts in developing public weather services and improving its service quality. "The cold and very hot weather warnings, ultraviolet index, WMO・s ．World Weather Information Services・ and ．Severe Weather Information Centre・ websites, and lightning location information as a supplement to the thunderstorm warning, are some examples," Mr Lam said. "We also actively contributed to the promotion of public weather services among WMO members, sharing Hong Kong・s experience with counterparts from meteorological services round the world.；
After completing the training course, participants are expected to contribute to the development of their own meteorological warning systems and public weather services on return to their home countries.
Ends/Friday, December 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:30
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