Skip Content

Reaching out to Fiji

10 February 2010

At the invitation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Mr. Cheng Yuen-chung, Scientific Officer of the Observatory, travelled to Fiji to deliver a series of lectures in a training workshop in early February 2010. Sixteen meteorologists and officers of disaster management authorities from nine Pacific Island Countries attended the workshop. The lectures focused on the important role of public weather services in support of disaster prevention and mitigation, particularly in the communication and coordination between meteorological services and disaster management authorities. The workshop was organized by the WMO.

After the lecture on disaster prevention and mitigation, Mr. Sakumai Kanawi of the Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service praised that the graded rainstorm warning system used in Hong Kong is effective in triggering the response action from disaster management authorities and the public. He also complimented that the use of weather symbol in Hong Kong's TV is very effective in conveying weather warnings, particularly in his country in which many different languages are in use. Mr. Laisenia Naitila of the National Disaster Management Office from Fiji Islands commented that the workshop provided many new ideas regarding communications and coordination between the National Disaster Management Office and the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS). He anticipates closer working relationship to be built between his office and the FMS against natural disasters in the future.

Mr. Y.C. Cheng (front row, 2nd right) together with the participants of the workshop.

Mr. Y.C. Cheng (front row, 2nd right) together
with the participants of the workshop.