HKO signs co-operation agreement with Guangdong Meteorological Bureau

6 November 2014

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming, and the Acting Director-General of Guangdong Meteorological Bureau, Mr Zou Jianjun, signed the "Co-operation Agreement in Meteorological Science and Technology" (the Agreement) after the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Guangzhou today (November 6), marking new height in the co-operation in meteorological science and technology between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Through signing the Agreement, Guangdong and Hong Kong deepen their meteorological co-operation, and continue to intensify the extensive interflow in such areas as numerical prediction modelling, weather forecast and warning, climate change study and atmospheric measurements. As a result of this collaboration, further developments of meteorology are expected in both places.

Mr Shun said, "Guangdong and Hong Kong has been collaborating in meteorology since the 80s. The two sides jointly established automatic weather stations to enhance weather observation, and met each year to exchange on technical matters. In more than 30 years, both places have engaged in deeper collaboration in other areas, such as meteorological communications, weather monitoring system implementation, data exchange, weather services and personnel training, and achieved very fruitful results. Signing of the 'Co-operation Agreement in Meteorological Science and Technology' presents opportunities for broader and deeper collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong in meteorological science and technology, with a view to providing even higher quality weather services to the public. The Hong Kong Observatory is very pleased to take forward the associated projects with Guangdong Meteorological Bureau."

Mr Zou said, "Guangdong and Hong Kong are geographically connected and face similar weather. The two places share the common goal of strengthening collaboration in meteorology to meet the needs of the public. Guangdong and Hong Kong has been collaborating for over 30 years. The development and enhancement in co-operation over the years have not only gained very fruitful results in many areas, but have also greatly contributed to the economic and social development in the two places and to the betterment of the public at large, thus earning a brand name of open co-operation in meteorology. The Agreement is a milestone in meteorological collaboration for the two places. We expect that the deeper interflow between us will enhance the level of weather services to benefit the large number of people in both Guangdong and Hong Kong."

The Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference was established in 1998 and is held annually in Hong Kong and Guangzhou alternatively. The China Meteorological Administration and the Hong Kong Observatory have signed the "Arrangement in Long-term Co-operation in Meteorological Science and Technology framework" in 1996. Under the Arrangement, Guangdong and Hong Kong have engaged in extensive co-operation and interflow in meteorology over the years. Since 1985, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have in turn hosted the annual Seminar on Meteorological Science and Technology and the Meeting on Cooperation in Meteorological Operations. The Hong Kong Observatory signed long-term co-operation agreements in numerical weather prediction technology with the Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau in 2011 and Guangdong Meteorological Bureau in 2012 to develop techniques in numerical weather prediction in the region and to share research results.

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming (left), and the Acting Director-General of Guangdong Meteorological Bureau, Mr Zou Jianjun, sign the "Co-operation Agreement in Meteorological Science and Technology" in Guangzhou today (November 6).