跳至主要內容

Hong Kong Time Service

GPS (Global Positioning System) Slave Clocks RTHK Central Plaza Caesium Beam Atomic Clock Master Clock HK Observatory Network Time Server Personal Computer Telephone Information Enquiry System Hong Kong Time Services

GPS (Global Positioning System)
GPS

GPS (Global Positioning System) clock is used to check against the 1 pps (pulse per second) signals output from the Caesium Beam Atomic Clock
Caesium Beam Atomic Clock
Caesium Beam Atomic Clock
Caesium Beam Atomic Clock used in the Hong Kong Observatory
Personal Computer
1 pps (pulse per second) signals from the Caesium Beam Atomic Clock are captured by a PC to output a digital time code. The timeis broadcast to the public through the Telephone Information Enquiry System.
Slave Clocks
Slave clock

1 pps (pulse per second) signals from the master clock are used to drive some slave clocks inside the Observatory.
RTHK Central Plaza
Time signals of six pips at one second intervals, with the sixth pip commencing on the quarter hour, are sent to RTHK. These signals are broadcast by RTHK according to the schedule set by various channels.

Time signals are also sent to Central Plaza daily to synchronize its clock. Time is represented by different colours of light shown on the top of the building.
RTHK Central Plaza
Central Plaza in Hong Kong
Master Clock
Master Clock

1 pps (pulse per second) signals from the Caesium Beam Atomic Clock are used to drive a master clock in the Hong Kong Observatory. The signals from the master clock would then be used to drive other clocks.
HK Observatory Network Time Server
NTS

Hong Kong Standard Time is fed into the Hong Kong Observatory Network Time Server. Synchronization of computer times can be done with appropriate software.
Telephone Information Enquiry System
Time Checking Service

Synchronization by the Hong Kong Observatory standard time can be performed by the following four methods:

  • bullet  By using the Web Clock of the Hong Kong Observatory.
  • bullet  By listening to the 6-pip time signals broadcast by RTHK
  • bullet  By using the Dial-a-weather System
    • Dial (852) 1878200
    • Choose "1" for Cantonese version, "2" for Putonghua version or "3" for English version
    • Choose "6" for Hong Kong Standard Time and Astronomical Information
    • Choose "1" for Hong Kong Standard Time
  • bullet  By Network Time Server of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO)