On March 28, the Hong Kong Observatory signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the World Meteorological Organization, further strengthening meteorological cooperation.
Mr. Chen Baiwei, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, stated during the signing ceremony that the collaboration between the Observatory and the World Meteorological Organization has a long history. The updated Memorandum of Understanding will enhance the close relationship between the two parties. The Observatory will continue to support the initiatives of the World Meteorological Organization and contribute to the implementation of the United Nations' Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
During the ceremony, Mr. Chen Baiwei and the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Ms. Seléste Shawlot, jointly witnessed the launch of the Severe Weather Information Centre (SWIC) 3.0 website. Ms. Seléste Shawlot remarked that the launch of the SWIC 3.0 website is a milestone, providing a one-stop platform for members to share and disseminate warnings, which is crucial for protecting people from the impacts of hazardous weather and related environmental events.
On the same day, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr. Li Jiachao, expressed during a meeting with Ms. Seléste Shawlot that the Hong Kong Observatory will continue to support the World Meteorological Organization in promoting regional and international meteorological cooperation. Specific efforts include establishing a "Belt and Road" Meteorological Training Centre within this year and supporting the organization's voluntary cooperation programs to provide training for meteorological personnel in relevant regions.
Hong Kong became one of the founding regional members of the World Meteorological Organization in 1948. In recent years, under the commission of the World Meteorological Organization, the Hong Kong Observatory has undertaken the development and operation of the World Weather Information Service website and the Severe Weather Information Centre website. In 2018, the Hong Kong Observatory and the World Meteorological Organization signed their first Memorandum of Understanding to support global weather information services. That same year, the World Meteorological Organization designated the Hong Kong Observatory as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for Nowcasting, fully recognizing its significant role in utilizing nowcasting technology to forecast severe weather. (CCTV reporter: Zhou Weiqi, Jin Dong)
