"Tropical Cyclone Name Nomination Contest" is open for public
"Tropical Cyclone Name Nomination Contest" is open for public (1 April 2005)
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The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the "Happy Daily" of Radio 1 of the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) jointly organise the "Tropical Cyclone Name Nomination Contest". From April 2 to 29, people are welcome to propose names with Hong Kong characteristics for inclusion in the tropical cyclone name list for the western North Pacific and the South China Sea.
The Tropical Cyclone Name Nomination Contest is part of the "Safer Living" campaign - a public education and publicity programme of the Government on natural disaster reduction and prevention in 2005. The objectives of the contest are to promote public awareness of the hazards related to tropical cyclones and to enhance public understanding of the Tropical Cyclone Signal System in Hong Kong.
People can obtain nomination forms at District Offices, Post Offices and the HKO Resource Centre. Nomination forms can also be downloaded from the HKO website (www.weather.gov.hk) and the RTHK website (www.rthk.org.hk). Completed forms can be returned by post, fax or by hand. The public can also submit nominations online at the HKO or RTHK websites. Details of the contest can be found at www.weather.gov.hk/activities/tcname_contest/introe.htm.
The judging panel of the contest comprises well-known personalities in the academic and cultural circles. They are (in alphabetical order) Dr Louis Cha (writer), Ms Kelly Chen (The Outstanding Youth 2004), Mr Chu Pui-hing (Director of Broadcasting), Mr Lam Chiu-ying (Director of the Hong Kong Observatory), Mr Lee Yee (columnist), Professor Ng Ching-fai (President & Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University), Ms Bernadette Tsui (columnist) and Ms Ada Wong (Chairperson of Wan Chai District Council and columnist).
Results of the contest will be announced by the end of May. Two winning names and four standby names will be selected in this contest for replacing two current tropical cyclone names provided by Hong Kong. The winning names will be submitted to the Typhoon Committee for approval. As a proposed name must receive the unanimous support of all Typhoon Committee Members before adoption in the name list, the four standby names will also be submitted for consideration in case the winning names are rejected.
To promote this contest, Radio 1 of RTHK will invite HKO staff to give talks on tropical cyclone related topics at the "Happy Daily" Programme on five consecutive Mondays beginning next Monday (April 4). Content of the talks will include the history of the tropical cyclone naming system, the historical development of the tropical cyclone warning signal system and HKO staff's personal experience during the direct hit of previous typhoons.
Currently, a list of 140 tropical cyclone names for identifying tropical cyclones affecting the western North Pacific and the South China Sea is maintained by the Typhoon Committee - a body consisting of 14 countries/territories under the joint auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Meteorological Organisation. The full list can be found at www.weather.gov.hk/informtc/sound/tcname2004e.htm.
Staff of the Hong Kong Observatory and Radio 1 of the Radio Television Hong Kong explaining the "Tropical Cyclone Name Nomination Contest". |
