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Letters | Hong Kong Observatory is not God, it can’t control the weather
- Readers discuss criticism of the Observatory’s signalling during Typhoon Koinu, what the weather forecaster and MTR could do better, and an unconventional step the government could consider
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Over the past 30 years or so, I’ve seen people blaming the Observatory on many occasions for the issuing or timing of the issuance of tropical cyclone signals.
They blame it for the inconvenience caused by the need to rush to work and the absence of public transport on the way home. Some in the financial sector criticise the Observatory for unnecessarily issuing the typhoon signal No 8, resulting in the closure of the stock exchange, thereby preventing them from making money.
Recently, a large number of passengers were stranded at stations after the MTR stopped outdoor train services immediately following the Observatory issuing typhoon signal No 9. Some criticised the Observatory for issuing the signal without sufficient prior warning.
I would say, stop laying the blame on and passing the buck to the Observatory. The Observatory’s duty is to monitor the weather scientifically and issue adverse weather warnings accordingly.
It is not responsible for ensuring the availability of transport or advising employers to make better arrangements for their employees. It is the duty of the respective government departments and public transport operators, as well as employers, to formulate good policies and arrangements to meet the needs of the public and provide reasonable care to employees in the event of a storm.
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