Weather systems do not stop at the border.  Meteorological experts in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao know that only too well.  That is why cross-border cooperation is top of the agenda for the three sister meteorological services.  This year, the annual Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Meteorological Cooperation Meeting was convened for the 13th time.  The host was Guangdong Meteorological Bureau, and the meeting was held in Zhongshan, Guangdong on 21 January 2008.  The 6-member Hong Kong delegation was led by the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr C Y Lam.  The meeting focused on the items of cooperation carried out in the past year as well as new developments in the future.  A lot of topics were discussed, ranging from automatic weather observing stations, study of haze, exchange of data and information, data communication links, telephone weather conference, exchange of visits, as well as climate change studies and climate forecasting.  The whole idea was to enhance our capability to provide quality weather service to the public in the Pearl River Delta.

The Cooperation Meeting was followed by a 2-day seminar on meteorological science and technology.  A further 11 Observatory staff joined the seminar.  A total of 22 scientific papers were discussed, 12 of which authored and presented by Observatory staff.  This was an interesting forum whereby colleagues in the region understood more about the scientific and technological accomplishment of their neighbours, and paved the way for closer collaboration.

After the seminar, colleagues of the Zhongshan Meteorological Bureau took us to a tour of their facilities.  We were all impressed not just by the blooming economy but also the burgeoning weather services to meet the demand of the thriving city.

Mr C Y Lam (2nd left), Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, took part in the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Meteorological Cooperation Meeting to discuss 3-party collaboration.

Hong Kong and Macao colleagues were impressed by the weather services of Zhongshan Meteorological Bureau