It's Back... And Much Stronger!

Bulletin issued at 13:55 HKT 10/Aug/2007
TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN

HERE IS THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.

THE STRONG WIND SIGNAL NO. 3 IS IN FORCE.

THIS MEANS THAT WINDS WITH MEAN SPEEDS OF 41 TO 62 KILOMETRES PER HOUR ARE EXPECTED.

AT 2 P.M., THE CENTRE OF TROPICAL STORM PABUK WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 40 KILOMETRES WEST OF HONG KONG OBSERVATORY (NEAR 22.3 DEGREES NORTH 113.8 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 8 KILOMETRES PER HOUR SKIRTING HONG KONG ON THE WEST.

PABUK IS NOW VERY CLOSE TO WESTERN PART OF HONG KONG. THE OBSERVATORY WILL ISSUE THE NO. 8 GALE OR STORM SIGNAL SHORTLY.

THE RAINBANDS OF PABUK ARE ALSO BRINGING HEAVY RAIN WITH SQUALLS TO HONG KONG.

WINDS AT SEAS OF SOUTHERN HONG KONG WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL WIND CONDITION OVER THE TERRITORY, REACHING GALE FORCE. IN THE PAST HOUR, WINDS OF ABOUT 94 KM/H WERE RECORDED RESPECTIVELY. PEOPLE IN THAT AREATHOSE AREAS SHOULD EXERCISE GREAT CARE IF THEY ARE OUT IN THE OPEN.

(PRECAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH NO. 3 SIGNAL)

(1) YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO DELAY IN TAKING ALL PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY. MAKE SURE NOW THAT ALL LOOSE OBJECTS ARE SECURE. PORCH FURNITURE, FLOWER POTS AND OTHER OBJECTS LIKELY TO BE BLOWN AWAY SHOULD BE TAKEN INDOORS. CHECK AGAIN AND MAKE SURE ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS CAN BE SECURELY LOCKED.

(2) SINCE SEAS ARE ROUGH, YOU ARE ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS.

(3) FOR SAFETY REASONS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BE CANCELLED.

(4) PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID WALKING OR WORKING IN AREAS EXPOSED TO GALES AND SQUALLS. DRIVERS USING HIGHWAYS AND FLYOVERS SHOULD BE ALERT TO VIOLENT GUSTS.

(5) ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS ARE AGAIN REMINDED THAT ALL SCAFFOLDINGS, HOARDINGS AND TEMPORARY BUILDINGS SHOULD BE SECURED.

(6) SMALL CRAFT OWNERS SHOULD NOW COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR BOATS.

(7) FISHING VESSELS NOT YET IN TYPHOON SHELTERS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER WITHOUT DELAY. CHECK AGAIN THAT ALL DECK FITTINGS ARE FIRMLY FASTENED. IF AVAILABLE, HEAVY ANCHORS SHOULD BE PREPARED AND USED IN ADDITION TO REGULAR ANCHORS.

(8) LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO, WATCH YOUR TV OR BROWSE THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY'S WEB SITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE TROPICAL CYCLONE.

PRE - NO. 8 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY ANNOUNCES THAT THE TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING SIGNAL NUMBER 8 IS EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 3:30 P.M. TODAY ( 10 AUGUST 2007 ). WINDS LOCALLY WILL STRENGTHEN FURTHER.

THE GOVERNMENT ADVISES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH LONG OR DIFFICULT HOME JOURNEYS OR HAVING TO RETURN TO OUTLYING ISLANDS TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEYS NOW. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO RELEASE ITS EMPLOYEES ACCORDINGLY.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE EDUCATION BUREAU (EDB) : THE EDB ANNOUNCES THAT CLASSES OF ALL SCHOOLS ARE SUSPENDED TODAY. SCHOOLS SHOULD IMPLEMENT CONTINGENCY MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT CONDITIONS ARE SAFE BEFORE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RETURN HOME.