Hong Kong's climate is sub-tropical, tending towards temperate for nearly half the year. During November and December there are pleasant breezes and plenty of sunshine with comfortable temperatures. January and February are cloudier, with occasional cold fronts followed by dry northerly winds. It is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below 10 C in urban areas. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the Observatory was 0 C on 18 January 1893. Sub-zero temperatures could occur on high ground and in the New Territories, where there were occurrences of frost and even snow. From 1967 to 1975, there were 4 days with snow reported in Hong Kong (see table). Although frost still occasionally occurred in winter, there was no more report of snow during the period from 1976 to 2006.

Date of snow report	Place of snow report
2 February 1967	Cape Collinson
13 December 1967	Tai Mo Shan
29 January 1971	Tai Mo Shan
14 December 1975	Very widespread throughout New Territories