2 A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past ()*+#,-
A typhoon passing to the south of Hong Kong in 1927 2345 6+789:;< =>&?@ ince the 1980s, Hong Kong’s sustained economic development has led to " 1980 #$%&'()*+,-.("/%012345(6789 Ssubstantial improvements in its ability to withstand natural catastrophes. !:;;<=>?@AB%C1970#$DEFG%&'(H/I24(JK Natural disasters before the mid-1970s seriously affected the development of L3MN>OPC 1883 #2QRSTUG%V+WXYZ[\]^_`abH Hong Kong. Before the setting up of the Hong Kong Observatory in 1883, cdefg%hFij+klmn 1883 #FG(o345pNq,r>stu there was no specialised department to observe, record and disseminate o345vwxhyS(z5%{|}&'~•€c(•‚bƒ„…†(…‡% information on typhoons. Therefore it was very difficult to gather information ˆ 1884 ‰ 2002 #&'HŠ(o345‹Œ%•+Ž(•‚••‘sde_’ systematically on casualties caused by natural disasters before 1884. Based on the official publications by the Hong Kong government and civilian reports, “_”•_–—b˜™š›;œ> the natural calamities that occurred between 1884 to 2002 have been generally categorised into five main types — typhoons, severe rainstorms, very cold, very hot and very dry weather. The following sections are attempts to study in depth how such natural disasters have wreaked havoc on society. !"
•#(6‰10ž%&'ŸxI de¡¢>de%£¤$¥¦(§¨%©ª«¬ SP•®¯°±Yb²³(´—µ¥¶·%ª¸(¹º»¼2‰¼½E¾š%¿ Typhoons À(ÁÂÃÄÅƳ°ÅÇ(¥ÈÁªÉ%ÊË©oÌÍΕÅÂϲÐbD From June to October every year, Hong Kong is subjected to threats of Ѳ³¿ÀÒ9:%de©ÓP³Å¬S(’e>ÔÕDÑoÖFAn×+س typhoons. Using the terminology of modern-day meteorology, typhoons are mÙ(ÁÚÛ+de(•‚%ÜÝmÙ(ÁÚ»V+de(`Þ%•ßàde( ‘tropical cyclones’ that form over the western part of the North Pacific. They ¬SƳ°ÅÇ(¥È+áâã(Žä> can last from a few days to several weeks. Their directions of movement are basically in line with the direction of the large-scale air currents above the —µ¥¶¾ªåxæsde%C•®¯°±YbDѲ³%;ç×+è¼( 23 ocean, tending to move northwards from the seas around the Philippines —µ¥¶xH/‰deéê> ëì 1949 # 6 žÌÍÎÑí¥¦xî(ïå% towards Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. Thus, typhoons refer to —µ¥¶•ëìÔe7(éðñsòó (ôõö÷ 2.1)> storms that are formed over the sea. Since ancient times only gazettes from
China’s coastal regions have provided information about typhoons. No gazettes # 2.1ÿ—µ¥¶ñœÆ!"#eóvì÷ 24 from the inland regions had any description of typhoons, implying that typhoons $%&'"( )*+", are weather systems closely related to the ocean. -. / /0 1. / /0 Tropical cyclones do not always develop into full-fledged typhoons. In —µ$¥% 41–62 22–33 6–7 ó the western North Pacific and the South China Sea, only about half of the —µe’ 63–87 34–47 8–9 ó é&—µe’ 88–117 48–63 10–11 ó tropical cyclones develop into typhoon strength.23 At the international de 118 'FÅ 64 'FÅ 12 ó meteorology conference held in the Philippines in June 1949, tropical cyclones •‚Aøù ! were classified into four categories according to wind speeds. úû&'2QR%üdeý%&'% 1992 %þ 8 > " # $ % & '
A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past
56 57 24 Table 2.1 Tropical Cyclone Classification — Wind Speeds and the Beaufort Wind Scale 23456 Maximum Sustained Wind Speed Beaufort Scale
km/h knot 25 Tropical Depression 41–62 22–33 Force 6–7 DÑÖÚ(n³Å¬S’e(`Þ%F)*+,-./(ü²0Úý +Ž´1 Tropical Storm 63–87 34–47 Force 8–9 e·(2as34%+#5s´1e·6Ó789:Ue>Ô;Q
Source: H%IJKL¾M%;BFJ%NBIJ> 26 Royal Observatory, Hong Kong, Typhoons, Hong Kong, 1992, p. 8. •O*POQR,`ŒAe(S7T%U+VŒAe¬SG>(o3¤¦27 ?
WXUY%;eb+³ZE[\]e^%Ö8UCAe%_Ô`òÁU Origins of Nomenclature e%ÖaAe%+:eb+cd;“ep%M‰fghi%jklmn o%Ôp=qrUsB%aJAt%u³U8v:%wxaye> Of the ancient Chinese texts discussing storms that were formed over the sea, 28 the earliest one can be traced to Nanyue zhi (Gazette of South China),25 ‰PAexz{sde%}|}~ü•(€ý w5s´ ·© 34£F¬ compiled by Shen Huaiyuan in the Jin Dynasty. In Shen’s work, the so-called •e’U‚>%>zƒ„sA?´ %…†ã%³U4e8%\(ƒpA>·à ‘big’ storms meant storms feared by people. The original excerpt is translated ‡ˆ‰ü›Š‹ý29 +Þ?´"Œ8{ e% •Ž%••U6·% •´ e·Æ below: ‘•(´de·’“%€ ”•–æSde>—˜™šPü"›•Úý30 D8+ `Þ e?´A%\œs %•s…>·—žŸù´Ap %•Ž>·ü )ý8 According to unofficial sources, there are many jufeng (violent storms). Jufeng means wind coming from four directions, with a +´er=Ž·(`Þ>—¡¢£ü¤Z2¥ýù´¦¦'CžŸCA%§p % change of tone this can also mean ‘fearful wind’. They occur in the €\Ce…%…BŽU••8>·•+ŽA_ ¨©(••%ªG[¾«î¬% seventh month. When they come, dogs and roosters make no sound 5sAe;•/p B%@F®(T¬> for three days. The big ones last for seven days, and the small ones last for three days.26 ¯A°±ÁÚ%@FAea³Åé&(’e•«Fde{>AeP‘mx{ p´²e·_´e…·'´e’·%¡¢£Pü¤Z2¥ý31 ³Ý´„]?´² In the Yuan Dynasty, Lou Yuanli, recorded the immense force of the ³µ+²e%AB²Uœ8>´²e·x•rpAe¶·¸<%[PW•¹PX storms and also described the phenomena before and after the formation of U„%FXs²>·AePº_R»8•³Å;e¼½´e…·'´e’·> 32 the jufeng:27 |}“$&'¥¾•‚(`Þ%¿ŠP•®¯°±YÀDѲ³(—µ¥ Between summer and autumn, the blowing of high winds and sea ( ) sand gives rise to fengchao (wind tides); the ancient people knew this ¶%@F typhoon de aU>+]:£¨©øPÖ$ÁÂÃÄ Typhon (Å as jufeng. The name jufeng refers to winds coming from all four ÆÇÈ) ª‚Ò 8+5sɨh£(typhoonª‚øP‘•´;e·'´Êe·> directions. Jufeng are usually accompanied by heavy rain. They even ËÌ8Í£ typhoon ª‚%FÉ8ÎÏÐ (William Dampier) P 1687 # 7 ž uproot trees, flatten crops, destroy houses and damage river 4JÑÒüu³J`ýª(s34>1697#ÓÔp(ü³ÅÕÖ×Øý (A Voyage embankments. They first appear like a broken rainbow, known as Around the World)%UFtyphoon¬•é&(’e>ÙÚ×2DEF>%DÑ_ ! jumu (mother of high winds). Mariners, when they see this " &'_ÌÍÎ_JÄbÛÑš¥¦RvHŠP²DѳÀ±•®¯°(—µ¥ phenomenon, call it fanfeng (sailing winds). # ¶%Ül{s typhoon (de)> $ Jufeng is also known as taifeng. According to Tai Tong of the Song Dynasty, % who wrote the Liushu gu (Ancient Stories From Six Books),28 the name fengbei &'FT(mÙ%ve7éÝ(—µ¥¶8+¾e({]?1805#É³Þ & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past was the earliest term used to describe a big storm. Later the name was !" (Francis Beaufort) ßå(ü!"eóý (Beaufort scale of wind force) ˆ ೯á 10 â(eãsä%ñs 12 ó%å 12 óeãs•NH 118 €æFÅ% 58 erroneously passed down as ju. ‘The name bei, meaning disastrous winds from 59 the sea, was mistaken as ju by popular books.’ In the Ming work, Wuza cu,29 {s hurricane force wind (Ae)Ò¿ŠP±¡êçè³á_éêC;±°À the editor Xie Zhaozhe wrote that the Fujian people call windstorms as beifeng, •®¯°ÏY•e7Î 12óeã(—µ¥¶%ª¸l{shurricane (Ae)> because of their jolting nature. The pronunciation of beifeng in Fujian dialect +] hurricane (Ae) ª‚©–æoDñÌò¨ hurrican (óô)ª‚%DQõ closely resembles that of taifeng in Cantonese. Thus, beifeng in the course of pAe%FöP•®¯°±YÀ²Dѳ(—µ¥¶>ÔÕ÷¬©Aeø'de time became taifeng. A Qing man, Yu Jingxi in his Fuzhou fuzhi (Local Gazette Ü©ÓWXU„%Go³°(Çe> of Fuzhou),30 also mentioned the beifeng wind and said that ju was popularly known as bei, and was also called bao. Another Qing man, Yang Shen, said 1947#FG%¡¢&'(deùV+zúªºa>1947#[%sÙöeH that ju was written as bei, and was pronounced as bei. In the Buddhist text, ‘red EѤ(¨û'FÅ(de%•®¯°±Yb²DѳÙëüýþ£ñÑŽèÿ winds like bei’ were also mentioned. A Qing author, Yin Guangren in his !de"#D$ (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) h%å(ea÷%sC& book, Aomeng jilue (A Collection of Records of Macao), mentioned that Yang Ù¬S(•ª'—µ¥¶ºa>&÷Oò() 23 'Ao¾emÙ(*+a©( Shen equated jufeng with beifeng, and was colloquially called fengbao (the S%•(a{ñöFÉQ©t,-./%0ÈzÍ£%‰Pa©Ä1Æde(e reporting of big winds); bao was a changed tone for bei. The change of tone ãéêÜV+Žä>eªa©ª¸xC92'a©Í£>234£%§38x+5 between ju and bei caused a great deal of controversy. Those who thought 67ä88ª9µAá;:j(dea©%xz;RPa
China Sea and the western North Pacific. •‚Aøù 60 Starbuck, L., A Statistical Survey of Typhoons and Tropical Depressions in the Western Pacific and China Sea Area From 61 Observations and Tracks Recorded at the Royal Observatory Hong Kong From 1884 to 1947, Hong Kong, Noronha Co. Ltd., 1951, p. 4. Outside Hong Kong, severe tropical cyclones are given many different # 2.3ÿ1946 ‰ 2002 #JK&'(—µ¥¶lì names. In 1805 a British naval officer, Francis Beaufort, formulated the Beaufort 78 123456789101112 scale of wind force. According to this scale, winds measured at 10 metres ©žíîï¼ –––31141 76 71 86 49 9 1 above ground level are classified into 12 grades of wind force. Force 12 is used Åñð –––0.93.211.8 21.9 20.5 24.8 14.1 2.6 0.3 •‚Aø? for wind force exceeding 118 kilometres per hour and such wind is described &'2QRÜY•‚> as ‘hurricane force wind’ (jufeng). Tropical cyclones with Force 12 winds in the seas of the West Indies, the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific, are known as ‘hurricanes’. It is said that the word ‘hurricane’ came from a |}2QRn1946#‰2002#hp+Ž—µ¥¶(2a%Ä'P57#Ü Central American aboriginal term ‘hurrican’ (a demon); this is translated as jufeng in Chinese, to differentiate it from the tropical cyclones taifeng appearing ªUI 347'—µ¥¶hJK%¯Ü•#+ 6.1'> 1946‰ 2002#E„%— 36 in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea. Regardless whether µ¥¶‡É2QR}ij"#~lU 14,629 NH%¯Ü•#s 257 NH> they are called jufeng or taifeng, they are all severe storms that originate from 1964 #©&'•€—µ¥¶"#`aFÜ ( ••‚ 10–30 ê%Ï) 105– the oceans during summers and autumns. 125 ê) 3@—µ¥¶(ª#?©#C 5 ž 25 J‰ 10 ž 23 J( 4 '@žU„% Before 1947, not every typhoon that affected Hong Kong was given a C&`aÜU+—µ¥¶ 26'ÒÔD 10'}HÑÄm—µ¥¶"#~l (ôõ name. From 1947 onwards, to differentiate two or more typhoons that appeared ö÷ 2.4)Ò©#ªij—µ¥¶"#~lU 42ï%¯HU 570NH> 1974#& simultaneously in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea areas, 'hËHÑÄm—µ¥¶"#~l(—µ¥¶@Î11'%©¯A3@—µ¥¶J Hong Kong began to adopt the list of names for tropical cyclones drawn up K&'(ª#>•3ƒ„(ªûdewË…© 1986 #(†d ( Typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center at Guam to name each tropical cyclone. Wayne)%‡(¹º-Î 192%ªC8ž 19J‰ 9ž5JE„ˆ0²³Iï?å The list was made up of four groups, each with 23 female names drawn from ªïC 8 ž 19 J ‰ 21 J%2QRij, 1 _ 3 b 8 l—µ¥¶"#~lÒå‰ different places. The names were arranged alphabetically and used in rotation. The tropical cyclone names had no correlation with the intensity of wind ï© 8 ž 25 J‰ 26 J%2QRij, 1 l—µ¥¶"#~lÒåIïC 9 ž 4 37 speed. The names would be reused once the 92-name list had been exhausted. J‰ 5J%2QRij,1 b3l—µ¥¶"#~l> »deHŠ(Š‹bi There were of course some exceptions. The names of some typhoons that had jH„AŒ%ÔCW¸vÄmÙ(S•M;> caused devastation would be retired from the list to avoid bringing back painful memories. # 2.4 1964 #&'hËijÄm"#kl(—µ¥¶•‚ From 1979 onwards, the tropical cyclone name list contained both male =>?@ 23 ABC4DEFGHIJK and female names and they were used alternately, a change from the custom 5 ž 25 ‰ 28 J mno (Viola) 1, 3, 7, 8 of using just female names. Before that, female names were used for tropical 6 ž 30 ‰ 7 ž 3 J pq (Winnie) 1, 3 cyclones that were formed in western Pacific of the northern hemisphere, 8 ž 7 ‰ 8 J rs (Ida) 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 while male names were used for tropical cyclones that were formed in western 9 ž 4 ‰ 6 J tð (Ruby) 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 Pacific of the southern hemisphere.33 On 1 January 2000, 14 nations/regions 9 ž 9 ‰ 11 J uv (Sally) 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 ! each nominated 10 names to form a list of 140 names for tropical cyclones. 9 ž 15 ‰ 21 J wxÎ (Tilda) 1, 3 " These nations/regions were Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Hong Kong, 9 ž 30 ‰ 10 ž 1 Jðx (Billie) 1, 3 # 10 ž 5 ‰ 7 J yx (Clara) 1, 3 $ Japan, Lao PDR, Macau, Malaysia, Micronesia, the Philippines, Republic of % 10 ž 11 ‰ 13 J sz (Dot) 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The list replaced the one & 10 22 23 (Georgia) 1 ž ‰ J {|Ð ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past used between 1996 and 1999. The new list highlights the areas affected by •‚Aøù tropical cyclones and their different cultural characteristics, and also strengthens Watts, I. E. M., (Director of the Royal Observatory), Hong Kong Annual Departmental Report for the Financial Year 62 63 inter-regional co-operation. 1964–65, Hong Kong, Government Printer, 1965, pp. 8–14. Frequency of Occurrences |}DÑÖ$ÁÚ(`Þ%¡¢DÑ(Ae%)mï¼¾ª%üŽ÷a•ý Þ?´'I_‰#ªe%'ª#¨_Ie>·‰PAeHŠ(¸<Àž•%ü² According to Gordon E. Dunn’s publication of statistics in Atlantic Hurricanes,34 0ÚýÞ?´DF›_•žH·ÒxE?´DF•_FžG·>àÁF‘ü’“ý an average of seven hurricanes occur each year in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the eastern North Pacific Ocean, along the coast of Mexico, an average of 5.7 ]?´”_W_XUñ%vqys%aCAt>·üu³e~³ý` Œ ?´³DU hurricanes are registered each year, while there are 13.5 in the Indian Ocean. In A%òH•H%WXs@>·•vÖ(vAe•#HŠ(ï¼%V+lª(Œ the western Pacific, the annual typhoon frequency is 20 to 30 on average of –%X;0Å8e6Ô—˜PWXUí> which over 80% are formed between June and October. Generally, five to six tropical cyclones that form in the western Pacific head towards Hong Kong. No tropical cyclones appear in the eastern South Pacific and the South Atlantic.35 $LM4!"
&'2QRo 1884 #ST>%™üý2a¡¢Ä'(—µ¥¶(•NH¯Ü3 Table 2.2 Monthly Distribution of Typhoons in the Western Pacific and China Sea Area šeã>1911#2QRUüý›ê•NH3šœeeã>1931#[2QRPÄ (1884–1941, 1946–1947) me’~lDb•´Ùl·Ae~l%F<š€žvde("ŸH>F ©+Ž Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total count 1884#‰2002#3éÝde2a%1884‰1911ÊË¡V•NH¯Ü3šeã for the –––––11520 23 8 3 – Î 118€æ (64³æ) FÅ% 1911‰ 1930#wF•NH3šœe2aÎ 220€ month % – ––––1.4 21.4 28.6 32.9 11.4 4.3 – æ (120 ³æ) FÅ% 1930 ‰ 2002 #( 73 #„¡V}ËHÑ 10 lAe~l( 38 Source: —µ¥¶>1884‰2002#(éÝdeU+21' (ôõö÷2.5)Ò¢£ÄB% Starbuck, L., A Statistical Survey of Typhoons and Tropical Depressions in the Western Pacific and China Sea Area From Observations and Tracks Recorded at the Royal Observatory Hong Kong From 1884 to 1947, Hong Kong, Noronha ¯Ü• 5.7 #%n+ªï’§é;(e’¡¢&'> Co. Ltd., 1951, p. 4.
The records of the Hong Kong Observatory indicate that during the 57–year period from 1946 to 2002, a total of 347 tropical cyclones occurred, giving an annual average of 6.1 (see Table 2.3).
Table 2.3 Statistics on Monthly Distribution of Tropical Cyclones Affecting Hong Kong (1946–2002) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total count for the –––31141 76 71 86 49 9 1 month % –––0.9 3.2 11.8 21.9 20.5 24.8 14.1 2.6 0.3 ! " Source: Internal records of the Hong Kong Observatory. # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past During the 1946 to 2002 period, warning signals were hoisted by the Observatory for a total of 14,629 hours due to tropical cyclones, or an annual Fig. 2.1 Aberdeen was extensively damaged by ¤ 2.1ÿ1874#9ž22Jde¥>(&'¦> 64 the typhoon on 22 September 1874. Courtesy &'¯§¨©ªª« 65 mean of 257 hours.36 Hong Kong Museum of History The year 1964 had the highest number of tropical cyclones entering the warning zone for shipping in Hong Kong (10–30º North, 105–125º East). During that year, in the period between 25 May and 23 October, there were a total of 26 tropical cyclones occurring in that warning zone. Ten of these tropical cyclones necessitated the Observatory to hoist local warning signals for a total of 42 times, lasting 570 hours (see Table 2.4). In 1974, a total of 11 tropical cyclones affected Hong Kong, the highest number on record. Among all the tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong, Typhoon Wayne (1986) had the longest duration. It lasted over 19 days and traversed the South China Sea three times between 19 August and 5 September. The first passage was between 19 and 21 August and the Observatory hoisted Signals No. 1, 3 and 8. The second passage took place on 25 to 26 August and the Observatory hoisted the No. 1 signal. The third passage occurred on 4 to 5 September and Signals No. 1 and 3 were hoisted.37 Judging from the frequency of occurrence of typhoons and the duration of the tropical cyclone warning signals, it can be
seen that typhoons can pose serious threats to Hong Kong in the summer. Fig. 2.2 One of the strongest typhoons in history ¤ 2.2ÿ1874 # 9 ž 22 J¢'(de©Ä' struck Hong Kong on 22 September 1874, causing +§FA3éÝ(deUª%¬•8¼3«+ the loss of more than 2,000 lives. This postcard 2,000 >à~®¯a,®¯°°0±²³bl
Table 2.4 Tropical Cyclones Affecting Hong Kong in 1964 shows the vessel Pacific Mail SS Alaska and a bª´DÑy•µ¶(Õä> ·¸¹ºŠ»« Chinese junk blown ashore by the ravaging typhoon. Date Tropical Cyclone Name of Warning Signal Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk-man Passed Through Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Hoisted 25–28 May Viola 1, 3, 7, 8 30 Jun–3 Jul Winnie 1, 3 7–8 Aug Ida 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 4–6 Sep Ruby 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 9–11 Sep Sally 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 15–21 Sep Tilda 1, 3 30 Sep–1 Oct Billie 1, 3 5–7 Oct Clara 1, 3 11–13 Oct Dot 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 22–23 Oct Georgia 1
Source: Watts, I. E. M., (Director of the Royal Observatory), Hong Kong Annual Departmental Report for the Financial Year 1964–65, Hong Kong, Government Printer, 1965, pp. 8–14.
! According to ancient local gazettes, the number of jufeng that struck China " varied from one region to another. The book Lingpiao Luyi (Records of Abnormal # $ Phenomena in Lingnan) stated that strong winds can occur once every two to % three years, it can also happen two to three times a year. Nanyue zhi recorded that & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past strong winds usually start to occur in the fifth or sixth month and become more frequent by the sixth and seventh months. In the book, Tongya (Introduction to 66 Fig. 2.3 A typhoon struck on 18 September 1906, ¤ 2.3ÿ1906 # 9 ž 18J(de¼S 15,000 67 Elegance), Fang Erzhi of the Ming Dynasty writes that between spring, summer causing the loss of more than 15,000 lives, wrecking 8¬•%0•b½©z¾÷¼>¤®hvm@ and autumn, there are strong winds known as jumu. The book, Hanghai tongxinyin ships and inflicting widespread damage to property. ¿Ð'ÀÁÂÃ> &'¯§¨©ªª« The photograph shows Victoria Harbour and the waterfront. Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History (A Directory for Navigation and Windstorms), states that big sea storms could appear at any time, but mainly in summer and autumn. These indicate that while ancient records do not have a consensus on the annual frequency of storms, they basically concur that storms are more active in the summer and autumn.
Deadliest Typhoons Since its establishment in 1884, the Hong Kong Observatory has been recording the maximum hourly mean wind speed of the tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong. From 1911 onwards, it also recorded the speeds of the hourly maximum gust. The Observatory added the No. 10 signal to the warning signal system in 1931 to promote public awareness of typhoons. The following is a record of the deadliest typhoons that struck Hong Kong from 1884 to 2002. In the period of 1884 to 1911, tropical cyclones with a maximum hourly mean wind speed exceeding 118 km/h (64 knots) were selected. For the period of 1911 to 1930, those with the hourly maximum gust reaching 220 km/h (120 knots) Fig. 2.5 A typhoon struck in September 1937, ¤ 2.5ÿ1937 # 9 ž(de¼S 11,000 8¬ causing the loss of more than 11,000 lives. The •>¤sÄÚÅÆZǪÈzde¡‰ÉÊ7 or above were selected. From 1930 to 2002, tropical cyclones requiring the Kowloon – Canton Railway track at Sha Tin was ä>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« 38 damaged during the typhoon. Courtesy Hong Kong hoisting of No. 10 warning signal were chosen. In total, 21 typhoons (see SAR Public Records Office Table 2.5) were selected from 1884 to 2002. On average, there was one intense typhoon hitting Hong Kong every 5.7 years.
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A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past
68 Fig. 2.4 Connaught Road Central during the ¤ 2.4ÿde¡¢ (ÑÒÓD³ÔÕ 1906# Fig. 2.6 Hillier Street looking south from near Wing ¤ 2.6ÿÍ¿ÎF²“ÏÐΪÈC 1937# 9 69 onslaught of a typhoon (18 September 1906). 9 ž 18JÖ>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« Lok Street after the typhoon in September 1937. žde¢'>(Õä>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records Office Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records Office ̪ª« Table 2.5 Deadliest Typhoons (1884–2002): Wind Speeds as Recorded at the Hong # 2.5ÿ3éÝ(de2a (1884–2002 #)?2QR×Y2a(eã Kong Observatory Headquarters !"23 =>DEFGHINK =>OKP"NK Q/0 $%R" Name of Hoisting of Tropical Hoisting of Tropical Mean Maximum ST UV Typhoon Cyclone Warning Signal Cyclone Signal No. 10 Maximum Gust $%"( (1. / Hourly (knot) (1. / /0) Wind ?@ W0 ?@ W0 /0) Speed 1896 8 8 10 69 Date Duration Date Duration (knot) Ø # ž ‰ J ØØØ Ø – 8–10 Aug 1896 – – – 69 – Ø 1906 # 9 ž 18 ‰ 29 J ØØØ50 Ø – 18–29 Sep 1906 – – – 50 – Ø 1923 # 8 ž 17 ‰ 22 J 95 NH 56 ñ ØØ67 113 –17–22 Aug 1923 95 hr 56 min – – 67 113 Ø 1927 # 8 ž 19 ‰ 20 J ØØØ53 101 –19–20 Aug 1927 – – – 53 101 1929 8 21 22 28 15 57 102 –21–22 Aug 1929 28 hr 15 min – – 57 102 Ø # ž ‰ J NH ñ ØØ – 31 Jul–2 Aug 1931 – – – 60 118 Ø 1931 # 7 ž 31 ‰ 8 ž 2 J ØØØ60 118 –16–17 Aug 1936 34 hr 38 min – – 62 115 Ø 1936 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 17 J 34 NH 38 ñ ØØ62 115 – 1–2 Sep 1937 34 hr 9 min 2 Sep 1937 – 59 130 Ø 1937 # 9 ž 1 ‰ 2 J 34 NH 9 ñ 1937 # 9 ž 2 J Ø 59 130 – 16–19 Jul 1946 53 hr 50 min 18 Jul 1946 4 hr 45 min – 95 Ø 1946 # 7 ž 16 ‰ 19 J 53 NH 50 ñ 1946 # 7 ž 18 J 4 NH 45 ñ Ø 95 Gloria 21–23 Sep 1957 60 hr 55 min 22 Sep 1957 7 hr 55 min 59 101 Mary 4–9 Jun 1960 127 hr 25 min 9 Jun 1960 9 hr 10 min 50 103 ÙQvÐ 1957 # 9 ž 21 ‰ 23 J 60 NH 55 ñ 1957 # 9 ž 22 J 7 NH 55 ñ 59 101 Alice 18–20 May 1961 34 hr 19 May 1961 2 hr 30 min 43 89 Úx 1960 # 6 ž 4 ‰ 9 J 127 NH 25 ñ 1960 # 6 ž 9 J 9 NH 10 ñ 50 103 Wanda 30 Aug–2 Sep 1962 53 hr 1 Sep 1962 8 hr 68 140 Ûx³ 1961 # 5 ž 18 ‰ 20 J 34 NH 1961 # 5 ž 19 J 2 NH 30 ñ 43 89 Ruby 4–6 Sep 1964 42 hr 35 min 5 Sep 1964 3 hr 55 min 58 122 Üs 1962 # 8 ž 30 ‰ 9 ž 2 J 53 NH 1962 # 9 ž 1 J 8 NH 68 140 Dot 10–13 Oct 1964 79 hr 10 min 13 Oct 1964 8 hr 15 min 46 94 Shirley 20–22 Aug 1968 54 hr 21 Aug 1968 7 hr 35 min 34 72 tð 1964 # 9 ž 4 ‰ 6 J 42 NH 35 ñ 1964 # 9 ž 5 J 3 NH 55 ñ 58 122 Rose 13–17 Aug 1971 67 hr 16–17 Aug 1971 5 hr 50 min 53 121 sz 1964 # 10 ž 10 ‰ 13 J 79 NH 10 ñ 1964 # 10 ž 13 J 8 NH 15 ñ 46 94 Elsie 12–15 Oct 1975 51 hr 15 min 14 Oct 1975 2 hr 50 min 31 76 Ýx 1968 # 8 ž 20 ‰ 22 J 54 NH 1968 # 8 ž 21 J 7 NH 35 ñ 34 72 Hope 1–3 Aug 1979 38 hr 2 Aug 1979 3 hr 45 min 38 94 tÞ 1971 # 8 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 67 NH 1971 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 17 J 5 NH 50 ñ 53 121 Ellen 7–10 Sep 1983 64 hr 20 min 9 Sep 1983 8 hr 46 100 1975 10 12 15 51 15 1975 10 14 2 50 31 76 York 13–17 Sep 1999 86 hr 16 Sep 1999 11 hr 33 74 Ûß # ž ‰ J NH ñ # ž J NH ñ àŽ 1979 # 8 ž 1 ‰ 3 J 38 NH 1979 # 8 ž 2 J 3 NH 45 ñ 38 94 Sources: Chin, P. C., Tropical Cyclone Climatology for the China Seas and Western Pacific from 1884 to 1970, Hong Kong, Ûá 1983 # 9 ž 7 ‰ 10 J 64 NH 20 ñ 1983 # 9 ž 9 J 8 NH 46 100 Royal Observatory, 1972, pp. 169, 174–175, 178, 182, 186, 190, 200. çP 1999 # 9 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 86 NH 1999 # 9 ž 16 J 11 NH 33 74 Heywood, G. S. P., Hong Kong Typhoons, Hong Kong, Noronha & Co. Ltd, 1950, pp. 8–9, 12–13, 19–20. Hong Kong Observatory, Tropical Cyclones in 1999, Hong Kong, 2000, pp. 72–73. •‚Aøù Starbuck, L., A Statistical Survey of Typhoons and Tropical Depressions in the Western Pacific and China Sea Area From &'2QR%üªÚÚÚ—µ¥¶ý%&'% 2000 #%þ 72–73 > Observations and Tracks Recorded at the Royal Observatory Hong Kong From 1884 to 1947, Hong Kong, Noronha Chin, P. C., Tropical Cyclone Climatology for the China Seas and Western Pacific from 1884 to 1970, Hong Kong: & Co. Ltd, 1951, pp. 4–6. Royal Observatory, 1972, pp. 169, 174–175, 178, 182, 186, 190, 200. Heywood, G. S. P., Hong Kong Typhoons, Hong Kong: Noronha & Co. Ltd., 1950, pp. 8–9, 12–13, 19–20. Starbuck, L., A Statistical Survey of Typhoons and Tropical Depression in the Western Pacific and China Sea Area from Observations and Tracks Recorded at the Royal Observatory Hong Kong from 1884 to 1947, Hong Kong: Noronha Co. Ltd., 1951, pp. 4–6. Of the 21 typhoons listed above, the one that had warning signals hoisted for the longest period (127 hours 25 minutes) was Typhoon Mary in 1960. The typhoon that resulted in the longest duration of 11 hours for the No. 10 âá¢'( 21 'deD%F 1960 #(ÚxJK&'(H„3-%Î 127 ! signal was Typhoon York in 1999. One can appreciate from these figures that " NH 25 ñÒ•ijÙleG3„B%ws 1999 #(çP%Uì 11 NH>•ã typhoons pose a threat to Hong Kong for long durations in the summer. # •ädeCW¸vÄ'(S•H„’§-> $ % & '
A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past
70 71 Fig. 2.7 From 30 August to 2 September 1962, ¤ 2.7ÿ1962# 8ž 30J‰ 9ž 2J(Üse Typhoon Wanda caused 183 deaths, 388 injuries 4yS 183 8¬•% 388 I?b 108 8¾ï% and 108 were missing. This photograph shows ¤sDÙPde¥'>(™¦>&'5ö·~ Central after the devastation. Courtesy Hong Kong Ù~•WíîËÌ SAR Information Services Department
! " # $ Fig. 2.9 Sha Tin was the most affected area, ¤ 2.9ÿ1962 #deÜsvZÇySá;: % with 150 people killed, 100 injured and 100 j%§D+ 150 8¬•_ 100 8I?b 100 8 & missing during the 1962 onslaught of Typhoon ¾å>klÆÓÆæs’e^çè%N•z£ ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.8 The passage of the No.10-signal Typhoon ¤ 2.8 1999 #¢'(deçP%ÙleGù Wanda. Streets and houses were flooded and péêëƒbìÞ½©>&'5ö·~Ù~• York in 1999 had not posed serious threat, as seen V+vðƒyS®;S•>¤D(ñ«#Ce destroyed. Boats were used to ferry families and WíîËÌ 72 in Tsim Sha Tsui where youngsters were bicycling “DFò!óoô(7™%•vªõ> their possessions. Courtesy Hong Kong SAR 73 in the rain for fun. Information Services Department Toll "XYZ[4\]
Human Casualties ^_`a
According to newspaper reports, the typhoons that struck in 1867, 1870 and }…†hÞ% 1884 #FG(e4F 1867 #_ 1870 #b 1874 #3s”2 39 39 1874 were the most destructive storms before 1884. Over 2,000 people 88<© 1874 #%ö¥÷쬕8¼Î 2,000 @8%•+Ž 1867 #b 1870 # were killed by the typhoon in 1874 alone. Information on the typhoons in (7ä(2an’§øùÀúû%|Ä÷–äÓü¨ïe4(`@7ä>C1884 1867 and 1870 was vague and incomplete, and it is impossible to come up #‰ 2002 #E„%bËHÑÙlAe~l'eš"#~lUdehyS(8º with a clear picture of the events. Table 2.6 lists the number of casualties ?•7ä;0=ö÷ 2.6 > caused by typhoons from 1884 to 2002 with Hurricane Warning Signal No. 10 (or equivalent) hoisted. # 2.6ÿÙlde'eó"#~l?•lì (1884–2002 #)
Table 2.6 Human Casualties Caused by Typhoons with Hurricane Signal No. 10 or !"23 =>DEFGHINK?@ `aUV Equivalent Hoisted (1884–2002) ba^c d`^c ef^c Ø 1896 # 8 ž 8 ‰ 10 J ¾ý ¾ý ¾ý Name of Date Warning Human Casualties Typhoon Signal Hoisted Number of Deaths Number of People Number of People Ø 1906 # 9 ž 18 ‰ 29 J ç 15,000 220 1,349 Injured Missing Ø 1923 # 8 ž 17 ‰ 22 J 100 ¾ý 1 – 8–10 Aug 1896 NA NA NA Ø 1927 # 8 ž 19 ‰ 20 J 15 22 ¾ý – 18–29 Sep 1906 about 15,000 220 1,349 – 17–22 Aug 1923 100 NA 1 Ø 1929 # 8 ž 21 ‰ 22 J 713¾ý – 19–20 Aug 1927 15 22 NA Ø 1931 # 7 ž 31 ‰ 8 ž 2 J 6410 – 21–22 Aug 1929 7 13 NA Ø 1936 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 17 J 20 179 1 – 31 Jul–2 Aug 1931 6 4 10 Ø 1937 # 9 ž 1 ‰ 2 J ç 11,000 88 182 – 16–17 Aug 1936 20 179 1 – 1–2 Sep 1937 about 11,000 88 182 Ø 1946 # 7 ž 16 ‰ 19 J ¾ý 5 ¾ý – 16–19 Jul 1946 NA 5 NA ÙQvÐ 1957 # 9 ž 21 ‰ 23 J 91000 Gloria 21–23 Sep 1957 9 100 0 Úx 1960 # 6 ž 4 ‰ 9 J 45 127 11 Mary 4–9 Jun 1960 45 127 11 Ûx³ 1961 # 5 ž 18 ‰ 20 J 5200 Alice 18–20 May 1961 5 20 0 1962 8 30 9 2 183 388 108 Wanda 30 Aug–2 Sep 1962 183 388 108 Üs # ž ‰ ž J Ruby 4–6 Sep 1964 38 300 14 tð 1964 # 9 ž 4 ‰ 6 J 38 300 14 Dot 10–13 Oct 1964 26 85 10 sz 1964 # 10 ž 10 ‰ 13 J 26 85 10 Shirley 20–22 Aug 1968 0 4 0 Ýx 1968 # 8 ž 20 ‰ 22 J 040 Rose 13–17 Aug 1971 110 286 50 tÞ 1971 # 8 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 110 286 50 Elsie 12–15 Oct 1975 0 46 0 Hope 1–3 Aug 1979 14 260 1 Ûß 1975 # 10 ž 12 ‰ 15 J 0460 Ellen 7–10 Sep 1983 10 333 12 àŽ 1979 # 8 ž 1 ‰ 3 J 14 260 1 York 13–17 Sep 1999 3 500 0 Ûá 1983 # 9 ž 7 ‰ 10 J 10 333 12 ! Sources: çP 1999 # 9 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 35000 " Hong Kong Observatory, HKO Warnings and Signals Database,
A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past
74 75 In terms of casualties, the typhoons in 1906 and 1937 caused the highest death toll. Over 10,000 people were killed in each incident. The casualties due to the typhoon in 1906 were tremendous. The number of fatalities reached 5% of the 320,000-strong population in Hong Kong at that time. In 1937, a typhoon resulted in 11,000 deaths, which accounted for about 1% of a population of 1,000,000. When compared with these two, Typhoon Wanda, which killed 183 people in 1962, can only claim third place. This clearly shows the destruction being inflicted on Hong Kong by typhoons in the first half of the twentieth century. These three deadliest typhoons have one thing in common, which is the abnormal rise in sea level caused by the typhoon — a phenomenon called storm surge — drowning a lot of people living along the coast. In view of the dire consequences of storm surges, the Observatory
Fig. 2.11 Typhoon victims that were not claimed ¤ 2.11 de>÷85$(%&%£'()* were wrapped with straw mats and given sea burials >%+F³,Õ1906 # 9 žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ» (September 1906). Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk-man «
! " # $ Fig. 2.12 Rescuers digging through the rubble ¤ 2.12 ê•-.pÑ3>/êÕ1930#Ö> % (1930). Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk-man ·¸¹ºŠ»« & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.10 Workers collected the typhoon victims ¤ 2.10 de¥>%%ˆ01Õ1906 # 9 that lay around after the passage of the typhoon žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ»« 76 (September 1906). Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk-man 77 introduced a computerised objective forecasting tool in the late 1970s to »?•¼©AŒ% 1906 #Æ 1937 #(de©¯#A8ºz¾3”2(e enhance its capability to forecast this terrible phenomenon. From the latter 4%<©¬•8¼™2¥ª3@%ÔDxF 1906 #(?•3s42%¬•8¼ part of the 1970s onwards, both the living conditions and the public’s awareness 5e#6'323×87(ÅñU›%I?b¾å8¼ž@Ò1937#6'×87 of destructive typhoons have improved in Hong Kong, and the threat posed ç+ªÅ3%©#(e48+ª3ª8@(¬•8¼%ç5e#6'×87(Å by typhoons has been reduced significantly. In the 27 years between 1975 and ñUªÒ1962#yS1838¬•(Üse4%×69ëåI%•vdeC‰Ù× 2002, the four typhoons that required the hoisting of Hurricane Warning 2ÅèEv&'(:já;>üIï?•8¼3@(e4+ªU’:%n©Oe Signal No. 10 — Elsie, Hope, Ellen and York — caused a combined death toll of 27. The deaths were mainly due to avoidable accidents including ’h³[(•Dš;(^<88={e’^88>Ø?ëƒ'@ƒ4zç¬>+ electrocution, or being hit by falling objects. For Typhoon York in 1999, the AP:%2QRC 1970 #$>E³"B]e’^C…!`%<=CDe’^( death toll dropped significantly to three. 67> 1970 #$>E&'(ëEÕFEG%ëƒ(He6I<š%dev&' wx(S•àZJ«?1975 ‰ 2002 #( 27 #„%ò'b}ijÙlAe~l Destruction and Damage of Vessels (deÛß_àŽ_ÛáÀçP¼S(¬•8¼Uì+278%yS¬•(ÊË; 9=KL_z2©MDš%Ÿ©ª9•FN=(6T> 1999 #(e4¬•8¼ Further investigations of the causes of deaths and injuries revealed that victims ©U;;J$‰ 3 8> of the 1906 and 1937 typhoons were mostly fishermen. In the 1906 typhoon, 2,983 fishing boats and 670 ocean-going vessels were lost.40 According to the estimates made by Tung Wah Hospital, boats and ships with a combined ghij value of HK$81,00041 were reported missing and 90% of the casualties were =O4"ªPñQyS?•(;9%RxH¤C1906b1937#(¨ïdeD(S boat people.42 In the 1937 typhoon, 1,855 fishing boats and 28 ocean-going jB@s@ƒ> 1906 #(e4D%U+ 2,983 ´@•À 670 ´-°0•TV> 40 ships capsized. Most of the corpses were found around the piers or at sea, and 41 the majority of the victims were drowned when their boats or ships were hit |}§HÏþºUö¥÷ì%…¾(•VçW8.13'O% ¬jB+ÚSs< 42 by the storm. This was related to the fact that most of the fishermen were Å8> 1937#w+ 1,855´@•À 28´-°0•TV%OPSXB(%@@ living in their boats at that time. They could not get onshore in time to seek CYÆ'³áH¤%•v9•Zz’e¡¢•[\B5M;ð]ÒüÆ4E@ƒ shelters from the unexpected strong winds and heavy rain. Some fishermen F•sû_^bÅ?_N`=ÔA(e“+Ž%@ƒM‰¾^Ÿeab[%L3 were not aware of the impending storm and set sail, eventually losing their ѳcdeŠ%F‰,1;³> lives at sea. 1962#Üse4E„%RZÇÙzç¬B2¥ 1508T%z¡f(@•8 In 1962, when Typhoon Wanda struck, apart from drowning 150 people + 2,053 ´_-°0•Î 36 ´>Üse4F>%•Zz¡f(¼›ªgmƒC in the Sha Tin area, 2,053 fishing boats and 36 ocean-going vessels were also 300@´hi?1964#tðe4¡f,314´@•_-°0•20´Ò1971#t destroyed. Typhoons since then have generally taken a toll of about 300 ships Þ¡¢-°0• jl% 88 a•k6YC³ÅSj%©#z¡f(@•+ 303 per typhoon. In 1964, Typhoon Ruby destroyed or damaged 314 fishing boats ´_-°0•Î35´Ò1979#8ž(àŽ¡f,374´@•_-°0•29´Ò and 20 ocean-sailing vessels. In 1971, a total of 303 fishing boats and 35 ocean- going vessels were either destroyed or damaged by Typhoon Rose, including 1983 # 9 ždeÛáÍ 360 ´@•À 44 ´-°0•zf>•vdev'7(• ! ZySá;(z¾Ò7äË 1990 #$Û+hEG (lôõö÷ 2.7)> " the capsizing of the Hong Kong–Macau ferry Fat Shan which killed 88 sailors. # In August 1979, Typhoon Hope damaged and destroyed 374 fishing boats and $ 29 sea-faring ships. In September 1983, 360 fishing boats and 44 ocean-going % & vessels were damaged or destroyed during the passage of Typhoon Ellen. As ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past shown in Table 2.7, typhoons have long wreaked havoc on ships and boats in 78 the harbour and the situation only started to improve in the 1990s. 79 Table 2.7 Statistics of Destroyed and Damaged Vessels (1884–2002) # 2.7ÿ•Zzflì (1884–2002 #)
Name of Date Tropical Cyclone Ocean-going Fishing Boats Total !"23 =>DEFGHINK?@ klmg ng op Typhoon Warning Signal Hoisted Vessels 1896 8 8 10 6713 – 8–10 Aug 1896 6 7 13 Ø # ž ‰ J – 18–29 Sep 1906 670 2,983 3,653 Ø 1906 # 9 ž 18 ‰ 29 J 670 2983 3653 – 17–22 Aug 1923 11 10 21 Ø 1923 # 8 ž 17 ‰ 22 J 11 10 21 – 19–20 Aug 1927 2 9 11 Ø 1927 # 8 ž 19 ‰ 20 J 2911 – 21–22 Aug 1929 3 11 14 Ø 1929 # 8 ž 21 ‰ 22 J 31114 – 31 Jul–2 Aug 1931 3 1 4 – 16–17 Aug 1936 22 about 40 about 60 Ø 1931 # 7 ž 31 ‰ 8 ž 2 J 314 – 1–2 Sep 1937 28 1,855 1,883 Ø 1936 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 17 J 22 ç 40 ´ ç 60 m´ – 16–19 Jul 1946 2 2 4 Ø 1937 # 9 ž 1 ‰ 2 J 28 1855 1883 Gloria 21–23 Sep 1957 3 3 6 Ø 1946 # 7 ž 16 ‰ 19 J 224 Mary 4–9 Jun 1960 6 814 820 Alice 18–20 May 1961 1 9 10 ÙQvÐ 1957 # 9 ž 21 ‰ 23 J 336 Wanda 30 Aug–2 Sep 1962 36 2053 2089 Úx 1960 # 6 ž 4 ‰ 9 J 6 814 820 Ruby 4–6 Sep 1964 20 314 334 Ûx³ 1961 # 5 ž 18 ‰ 20 J 1910 Dot 10–13 Oct 1964 2 90 92 Üs 1962 # 8 ž 30 ‰ 9 ž 2 J 36 2053 2089 Shirley 20–22 Aug 1968 4 26 30 Rose 13–17 Aug 1971 35 303 338 tð 1964 # 9 ž 4 ‰ 6 J 20 314 334 Elsie 12–15 Oct 1975 7 3 10 sz 1964 # 10 ž 10 ‰ 13 J 29092 Hope 1–3 Aug 1979 29 374 403 Ýx 1968 # 8 ž 20 ‰ 22 J 42630 Ellen 7–10 Sep 1983 44 360 404 tÞ 1971 # 8 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 35 303 338 York 13–17 Sep 1999 1 many many Ûß 1975 # 10 ž 12 ‰ 15 J 7310 Sources: àŽ 1979 # 8 ž 1 ‰ 3 J 29 374 403 Hong Kong Observatory, Tropical Cyclones in 1999, Hong Kong, 2000, pp. 72–73. Reports on the day of the incidents in China Mail, Gongshang ribao, Huazi ribao, Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily, Wah Ûá 1983 # 9 ž 7 ‰ 10 J 44 360 404 Kiu Yat Po, etc. çP 1999 # 9 ž 13 ‰ 17 J 1 @´ @´
•‚Aø? ü!"J…ý%üà…ý%ü½èJ…ý%üþ©J…ý%üþ#J…ý% China Mail š%P’ŽJE (…‡> &'2QR%üªÚÚÚ#—µ¥¶ý%&'% 2000 #%þ 72–73 >
! " # $ % & '
A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past
80 81 Fig. 2.13 The vessel Tai Kwong No.1 ran ¤ 2.13ÿ;Änlµ¶ofYÆÕ1937 # aground and damaged the pier (September 1937). 9 žÖ>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records Office
! " # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.14 Between 7 and 10 September 1983, ¤ 2.14ÿ1983 # 9 ž 7 ‰ 10 J¢'(deÛ Typhoon Ellen caused the destruction of 360 fishing á¡f,360´@•b44´-°0•>&'¯ Fig. 2.15 Typhoon Clara caused the collision of ¤ 2.15ÿ1981 #deyx‡É¨´0•o 82 boats and 44 sea-faring vessels. Courtesy Hong §¨©ªª« two vessels (1981). Courtesy Hong Kong Museum M>&'¯§¨©ªª« 83 Kong Museum of History of History Fig. 2.18 Soldiers and civilians worked together ¤ 2.18ÿÞƒ!7sªz¡ ZÇtU(g• to remove a wooden boat blown ashore at the Sha uvÕ1937 # 9 žÖ>&'5ö·~Ù~•W Fig. 2.16 Two steamships, Leonor and Albay, ¤ 2.16ÿ|}¿~•T€P€•Õ>E{|} Tin Theatre (September 1937). Courtesy Hong íîËÌ owned by Douglas Lapraik & Co. (later registered as ¿~0•€•Ö(¨´0•¿n'l_±ðÐ Kong SAR Information Services Department Douglas Steamship Co.) and other sunken vessels at lbÔÓ0•PDÕ³ÔIde¡¢•TV the Hong Kong Central waterfront (September 1874). Õ1874 # 9 žÖ>&'¯§¨©ªª« Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History
! " # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.19 Boat people attempted to salvage ¤ 2.19ÿ•ƒpqCæzzf(@•rA½© valuables from their wrecked fishing boats Õ1962 # 9 žÖ>&'5ö·~Ù~•Wíî 84 (September 1962). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR ËÌ 85 Information Services Department Fig. 2.17 French destroyer Fronde was wrecked ¤ 2.17ÿ–Ñwúxde>zf”2%µ¶P and brought ashore at Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon (18 Úyz{mÕ1906 # 9 ž 18 JÖ>·¸¹º September 1906). Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk-man Š»« Collapse of Houses Following the population boom after the Second World War, the number of temporary shelters increased significantly in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, Hong Kong was still at an early stage of development, and shelters built by newly arrived immigrants were mostly made of wood or iron sheets. Sixty per cent of Hong Kong’s area is hill slopes and much of the highland is steeply sloped; these slopes are covered by a thick layer of wind-eroded loose materials. When typhoons hit, the bottom soil layers of the unstable slopes will shift gradually, which may lead to the rapid subsidence of loose soil or even large collapses of rock.43 Such phenomena are often observed in landmasses formed by granite and volcanic rocks, as in the case of the hilly region on Hong Kong Island. Temporary shelters that were built on these slopes were structurally unsafe and could not withstand the ferocious winds and rain. Fatalities and property damage caused by collapsed houses during typhoons were most serious in the 1950s and 1960s. Tragic examples include Typhoon Gloria in 1957 and Typhoon Mary in 1960. The situation started to improve by the late 1970s.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, over 100 temporary shelters were destroyed Fig. 2.21 Chinese boats and junks were wrecked ¤ 2.21ÿϵՕ¤H(¶·°Ö(@•æ¸ each time a typhoon struck. The most destructive typhoon was Typhoon at East Point (now Causeway Bay) during the de¹fÕ1906 # 9 žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ»« typhoon (September 1906). Courtesy Dr Tong Gloria that hit Hong Kong on 21 to 23 September 1957. About 900 temporary Cheuk-man shelters were destroyed, mainly in Tsuen Wan and the eastern part of the New Territories. Over 10,000 people became homeless, including 1,822 in Sham Shui Po and 1,109 in Chai Wan.44 Table 2.8 summarises the property qrst loss and damage in the wake of Signal No. 10 typhoons. ‚>ƒÔŸð87„…%†HGŒ(klJ‡ˆ@> 1950 ‰ 1960 #$&'( )*‰ŠL’§‹>%W¿q(ëƒ@FgŒ'Å®•ŒEk%OP&'(m ¬+ 60% (áîOjŽ(S%;Y•šms•Žm%ŽáÅe•û‘’“%Ž á(¾”åHzde¡¢>%•ò–—˜À%³[™ã(m÷©šÈb›È% 'œ•ž‹%F‰Ÿ‘;áî ¡% 43 ü9¤¦F¢£ŸÆ¤jŸ’¥K( îµ='è(jÙ¦ÔàZ>èŒP§ŽUÅ(†Hkl%¨©Å|Ä0ª¾ Ee“%9de«¢&'•³[kl¬¡(7äo3©@¾•¼Òz¾F 1950 #$b 1960 #$3s”2>‡É;›kl¬¡(de+ 1957 #(ÙQvÐÀ ! " 1960 #(Úx% , 1970 #$®E7äÛ+hEG> 1950 #$‰ 1970 #$ # de¡f(†Hkl•ïÜ2¥ªÅU¼%ÔDxF 1957 # 9 ž 21 J‰ 9 ž $ % 23 J¡¢(dehyS(:j3;%÷ìç+2¥ 900 „glzfÒWØÏY & b¯°Ùzf±ê3;%û²zf(4ƒ8¼2¥ 1 38%N<³Ù4ƒ@Î '
A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.20 A matshed, totally destroyed by the ¤ 2.20ÿº'•ŒS(¯kæsdehf%- 1,822 8%´°Ù4ƒç+ 1,109 8> 44 +Ž)ÙleG(devklhyS( 86 force of the gale. Lamma Island could be seen at a î»ç•v²¼è (1874#9ž)>&'¯§¨ 87 distance (September 1874 ). Courtesy Hong Kong ©ªª« :jlôõö÷ 2.8 > Museum of History Table 2.8 Property Loss and Damage in the Wake of Signal No. 10 Typhoons (1884– # 2.8ÿÙleG Ä'klzfsä (1884–2002 #) 2002) !"23 =>u"HINK?@ vwijxy Name of Date Tropical 1906 9 18 29 38 Typhoon Cyclone Warning Details Ø # ž ‰ J ;KðÜ+ „kl¬¡>±µ½¾_YÆÕ¿€ Signal Hoisted YÆ_úÀYÆ_2½YÆÖ_ÁÊÎ_–U; – 18–29 Sep 1906 In Tai Po, 38 buildings collapsed. West Point Godown, Blake Â_W°~ÃU;Ä]Izf>3ÅÆ÷ìz¾Î Pier, Queen’s Pier, Star Ferry Pier, Pedder Street, Supreme 2 8‰ 3 83'O> Court and the bamboo scaffolding of the new Post Office Ø 1923 # 8 ž 17 ‰ 22 J WØbàèmÙ¦s”2%;¤ze¡¡lÇ3« suffered damage. A conservative estimate of loss amounted to + 52 „>&'bÚymÙ]+@ÈlÇz¡v_ HK$20 to 30 million. ¡¡'”2I¹f> – 17–22 Aug 1923 Destruction in the New Territories and the outlying islands was particularly serious. In Tai O, at least 52 buildings were Ø 1927 # 8 ž 19 ‰ 20 JÚymÙ¡l¦s”2%-Z°+120mÈkl¬ destroyed. In Hong Kong and Kowloon, many buildings were ¡%ÚyÉUʦ6Yze¡v>z{m_ËÎ_ either blown away, destroyed, or seriously damaged. ÄÏÓ_N<³Ÿ+¡lÌŠ> – 19–20 Aug 1927 The Kowloon area was particularly hard hit. In Cheung Sha Ø 1929 # 8 ž 21 ‰ 22 JÚyb&'mÙkl¬¡ÌŠ”2>ÍÎ_Úy_ Wan, 120 or more buildings collapsed. In Kowloon Tong, the Ïа_N<³_ѵUYÆ—èz¡Ò%ÓÔÕ entire squatter area was blown away. In Yau Ma Tei, Temple ]¬¡>&'|}¿~Î_ÑÒÓ_šÖtU_ú Street, Canton Road and Sham Shui Po, there were reports of À;ÓD(lÇÜ+¬¡> collapsed buildings. – 21–22 Aug 1929 The collapse of buildings in Hong Kong and Kowloon was Ø 1931 # 7 ž 31 ‰ 8 ž 2 J ²þ.Gx_ñ#xxh(YMCA)l×_±°Ø 4 serious. Shau Kei Wan, Hung Hom and Sham Shui Po were „l6ze¡f%ÙÚÌ;Î_&'¦±ÛΪ the hard-hit areas. The canopy of the Mong Kok Pier was blown Çze6È¡¡>z{mN0YÆ_¿€YÆ_Ü off and the ticketing office collapsed. On Hong Kong Island, ÛÅ‹½YÆ@‰ˆÝ¡ %l×]zée¡f> some buildings in Douglas Street, and on Connaught Road and Ø 1936 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 17 J ¶·°ÞßÎ_ѵ¢²Î_àZºU_áâµã Queen’s Road Central (including Ko Shing Theatre) collapsed. ä_¯°"å_i@ 2 _ 3 _ 4 æš(lÇ•6È – 31 Jul–2 Aug 1931 The rooftops of the South China Football Club, the YMCA and four houses in Sai Wan Ho were completely destroyed. ¡ %±°Âk]÷ªç=>Äè_ʦ_•lÜ Buildings in Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, and one building in Sai Ifj> On Street, Aberdeen, were blown down. Many crossbeams at Ø 1937 # 9 ž 1 ‰ 2 J ”2z¹f(Ùë)é;Kê?‰ë‹zeìvÒ Yau Ma Tei Ferry Pier, Blake Pier and Chiu On Pier toppled ZƵ2¥ªè(ʦbNlz¡fÒÑÒÓ± 7 and their roofs were destroyed by the violent windstorms. „íîïðÒÚyÉ)EñU¢²aò_"^óô – 16–17 Aug 1936 Some buildings in Jardine’s Bazaar in Causeway Bay and Fa Uõók6¼ö¡>ÔÓmÙ=ÍÎ_÷Z_¯ Yuen Street in Mong Kok were destroyed, as were Shing Mun °_øÇ_ЀŸ_±ùú_Ïа_àûéÓ_ Hospital, Lai Chi Kok Prison and Tsuen Wan Police Station. Úyà_N<³_-Z°_ZÇ_üŽ+i@l Two-, three- or four-storey buildings, western-style houses, scaffolding factories, temporary shelters and stone huts were Ç_Äè_glze¡f'6Ȭ¡> also damaged. Ø 1946 # 7 ž 16 ‰ 19 J 24ÙÊËýDC&'èmÙ%°¦_±ùú_| – 1–2 Sep 1937 A whole village in Tai Po Market was swept away. In Sha Tau þÓ±> Kok, half of the squatter huts and small houses were destroyed. ÙQvÐ 1957 # 9 ž 21 ‰ 23 J WØz¾Î¼Å3O%¯°ªÙfl 400 „Òñ On Connaught Road West, seven shops caught fire because j_Oÿ_ZÇ_Å<Ùfl500„>)mÙ(g of the typhoon. The high walls and gardens of houses in Kowloon Tong and the garage of the Police Training School l_!"Ù=N<³gl_´°gl_ÚyàM# collapsed. Many buildings, scaffolding factories and wooden ŸÆ#$ë_ÍÎ_ÏаÙ_´°µëšze” huts in Hung Hom, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kam Tin, A 2¡f%4ƒ8¼Î 10,367 8> Kung Ngam, Sai Ying Pun, Shau Kei Wan, Kowloon City, Úx 1960 # 6 ž 4 ‰ 9 J WØ-Ìe43s42%íl¡fB;N 10 @ Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Sha Tin and Fanling and on „%%&3È>Ïа_M#Ÿ_j'Ó%3«+ Hollywood Road were partially or wholly destroyed. 30 @„glIf%)mzfgl×¼( 330 „> – 16–19 Jul 1946 The disaster-struck areas were concentrated on Hong Kong Ûx³ 1961 # 5 ž 18 ‰ 20 J )QÇQþëIz”2%&ë3«+ 6 „ël¬ Island: Wan Chai, Sai Ying Pun and Des Voeux Road West. ! ¡> Gloria 21–23 Sep 1957 The financial losses in the New Territories reached several " million dollars. In Tsuen Wan, 400 houses were destroyed 1962 8 30 9 2 3 Üs # ž ‰ ž J 'ÚWØ(4ƒ8¼2¥ 3%ZÇêklbí* # while 500 houses in Castle Peak, Yuen Long, Sha Tin and æf%4ƒç+3,000m8>ò+°]+30@„g Sheung Shui collapsed. Wooden huts in various regions, such l¬¡%Ø,Î_-.Î2Rgl]æ¡f>ÔÓ $ as those in Sham Shui Po, Chai Wan, Lo Fu Ngam and Fu mÙ4ƒ8¼?;/±(5,500)_;K(2,000m)_Ï % Mei Village of Kowloon City, Hung Hom, Shau Kei Wan, (4,500) (3,000 ) (3,000 ) and Chai Wan Kok Village were seriously damaged. The а _)QÇ m _0~€ m > & number of disaster victims reached 10,367. 1964 9 4 6 ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past tð # ž ‰ J I43”2(©;KFÙ1ë%zf†Hglb1 Mary 4–9 Jun 1960 The areas most severely hit were the New Territories and ë2lǼ8„Ò'Úb¯°Imzde3bgl 88 Cheung Chau Island. Ten shops and houses and three memorial U+1,368„%4ƒUÎ8,5008Òàè45El6 89 arches were destroyed. Over 30 wooden huts in Shau Kei Wan, Yf¡B 30 „%¡6l×UEl 180 „> A Kung Ngam, Valley Road and Lo Fu Ngam were destroyed. Altogether 330 huts collapsed in Hong Kong. Alice 18–20 May 1961 Man Wah Village of Ho Man Tin was hit hard with at least six sz 1964 # 10 ž 10 ‰ 13 J I43”2(Ùë+ZDZ78èjgl_Ïа village houses destroyed. ЀŸglÙ_ZÇ 9:ë>ÔÓmÙ]+kl Wanda 30 Aug–2 Sep 1962 Over 30,000 people were affected all over Hong Kong, ¬¡6T%=N;_ñjÓ_)QÇ_ZƵ> Kowloon and the New Territories. All houses and shops in Sha Tin Market were completely destroyed, with 3,000 victims. Ýx 1968 # 8 ž 20 ‰ 22 J ¯°;57!"Ùö“%U+ 60 „glz¡f% In To Kwa Wan, more than 30 huts were pulled down. •!"ÙÜ]+ 27 „glzf>ÔÓmÙ=Úy Rooftop huts in the Boundary Street and Portland Street were °_0~€_)QÇ_<²_ZÇ_;K]+ 80 all blown away. People affected included 5,500 in Tai Hang @„gl_•lzf> Sai, over 2,000 in Tai Po, 4,500 in Shau Kei Wan, and over tÞ 1971 # 8 ž 13 ‰ 17 JglÙÆÛ"Ù+2¥ 1,000 „glzf%4ƒ+ 3,000 in both Ho Man Tin and King’s Park. 4,500 8U@%I¢Mz¾3”2(©Iûë%Ô Ruby 4–6 Sep 1964 The worst hit area was the seven villages of Tai Po, with ï©Úy°%ÔÓmÙ)éÚy¦_;=jj<7 thousands of temporary shelters and village houses destroyed. 67 14 Another 1,368 houses on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and „kl_Ï°b-Z „kl_¯°9:9G in Tsuen Wan were affected. Disaster victims numbered 8, ë>?l 16 '<@_´°WÙ¨È;A_BCD 500. The number of houses completely destroyed in Mui Wo WÙªÈ;AbEaj¨'<@ÜѤ¬¡> on Lantau Island was 30. Houses with their roofs blown off Ûß 1975 # 10 ž 12 ‰ 15 J ;=j;F̪„ël¬¡> amounted to 180. àŽ 1979 # 8 ž 1 ‰ 3 J •µGH/ 50 @„glzde¡f>ÏаIÙ Dot 10–13 Oct 1964 The hardest hit areas were the wooden huts located at Sha Tin’s Sai Lam Monastery, the squatter area of Shau Kei Wan’s ©Jë(glzK (Z›%¡>z{m+ 16 „ A Kung Ngam, and the Lower Kwai Chung Estate of Sha Tin. 2Rglz;e¡¬>¯°LÇMë_;KN
! " # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.24 Luckily escaping Typhoon Rose’s ¤ 2.24ÿdetÞ¢'>%*ab>mŠ%4 onslaught in August 1971, a girl surveys the vû²æf>1971#8ž¯P]Éö“(Iû 92 wrecked remains of her home in despair. The ë>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ 93 Fig. 2.23 Severe damage caused to houses after ¤ 2.23ÿde¥>ƒkæf (1962 # 9 žÖ> photograph was taken at Sam Ka Tsuen near Kwun the passage of the typhoon (September 1962). &'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« Tong. Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records Office Services Department ª¸AB%ÙleGv6':j(`a’§Äg%hi$jõ•‚%¾jH ¤¾e#$%)mÙ(I47ä¥+¾e%ü8g¥JK )Ùë(H/>CÙ Ú×2®‰Ù×2k%z¾’”2(m:%F@ƒlë(Ùë=Ïа_z{m À-Ìšs24ÙÒ‰Ù×2ÅèE%FD mæâý(mÙ=±Õ_°¦ÀN <³šzf±ê’;Ò‚>Ie4”2:j(Ùë%wFWH/(!XbEñÙ =;KÀZÇs@ (ôõÅ÷2.8)>ïnÙÚ×2®‰‰Ù×2kdehyS( 6T%;@ýDC?'&'(ÏY%)é'è_ÚyèèbWØ(ÏY>
Fig. 2.25 The typhoon in September 1874 ¤ 2.25ÿ1874 # 9 ž(e4vØ?•ZbŒ damaged many ships and buildings along the u©:j”2>&'¯§¨©ªª« waterfront. Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History
! " # $ % Fig. 2.27 View of the Tsim Sha Tsui clock tower ¤ 2.27ÿdeàŽ¢'>%z½c•of(2 & through the twisted rubble of Star Ferry Pier, which ½YÆ%-î»ç•vdZefÂÕ1979 # ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past was damaged by a container ship during the passage 8 žÖ>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ Fig. 2.26 Scene of devastation – houses were torn ¤ 2.26ÿƒk4¸deop%qrstÕ1906 of Typhoon Hope (August 1979). Courtesy Hong 94 down by the typhoon (September 1906). Courtesy # 9 žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ»« Kong SAR Information Services Department 95 Dr Tong Cheuk-man In general, the destruction brought by typhoons that necessitated the z{ie Warning Signal No. 10 was widespread. A careful review of data reveals that damages inflicted by typhoons on various places changed in different time •ïde¡¢%&'6àRvqwxsy%h+(JDéÀzz{¹Òg¥JK periods and affected the development of the region. In the late nineteenth and ƒŠ(|=}~(Y’säÀ•=(©€>OPdeySj›ö•‚ƒÓÆ(7 early twentieth centuries, areas where the fishermen lived, such as Shau Kei ä%F'è(•Y_D±ÙbÚyèèÏY3”2%ü9Ùë987„z%.< Wan, Yau Ma Tei and Cheung Chau, suffered more serious losses. In the klM•%DѤ
de´6:jWؤmF>%ySJD°¬;€(=µOIñUª‰IšF Å>50 ‚G%¤XŠ¿L5Ä')*’§;ð2%9:de>(¶®’“v¤X (¥MhyS(JK¦Ô2;>1910#$®_1920#$k%9de¢'%Äm ·â¾¸%ÔÓmÙ·â^bì0Ä'••%‡É―=%¿Š/âe^%51 ðáªêvq}~sy>
CªÈ¹H„Ü¥º•A(de%v!"XµA(z¾¦ÔàZ?ú»Xz ! 52 z¼{ùX%½¾ð®zz¼{Y¿% )*éÀ-HE¾6âDìp%O¥; " I?5ÒSÅ)*¾™¥(#Æ%©€UÀ7Å;>$ mæ(ŠéIde¢' # Fig. 2.29 The last ferry before the suspension of ¤ 2.29ÿ{uG(3>ªŽ•> 1964 # 5 ž $ JK%•]ÝÅbÁ?•ïe4¡¡(gl% 90% s$¸q!8_Â7š(ë services. A scene during the passage of Typhoon 27Jmnoe³¢'E„2½Yƪ™>&' % Viola on 27 May 1964. Courtesy Hong Kong 5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ h%}lì1959#ëECgl(!8+303>53 3¾ÃB§3©deE„û² SAR Information Services Department & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past zf_ľ’8B%•ÅçŠÆBL}áv¸qJ«_)*ÇÈ(¡¢?1970# $FG%;Y•!8!•L©FŠìÉ%'FJìÊ%9de‡É{!%!8( 98 99 ¸qo3J«Ò•de¥>%Y•!pL^6A–âD%IJK’”2(·X% FŒu_›<_gX_zË_uìbÌÅš!8s$÷> 54 Agricultural production in the New Territories, such as Yuen Long, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Sha Tin, Fanling, Tsuen Wan and the outlying island of Lantau, was hampered when typhoons struck. Neighbouring regions such as Guangdong were also affected by typhoons.48 Daily necessities could not be delivered to Hong Kong on time due to paralysed traffic, resulting in supply shortages. Most affected by price rises were food items such as vegetables, fish and meat.49 According to the records in different periods, after the typhoon’s ravaging of the agricultural regions in the New Territories, the prices of daily food items would increase anywhere from one-third to more than 300%.50 The torrential rain in the aftermath of typhoons also had a very serious impact on local agriculture, especially in the pre-war era when
! " # Fig. 2.32 A scene at Chatham Road, Hung ¤ 2.32ÿÍÎËÒÓP 1979 # 8 ždeàŽ $ Hom after Typhoon Hope’s passage (August ¥'>Õä>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ % 1979). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.31 Advertising signs torn down during ¤ 2.31ÿdetÞÓìðÙ%¾«Ä#%z¡ the passage of Typhoon Rose in August 1971. ¬Õ1971 # 8 žÖ>&'5ö·~Ù~•Wí 100 Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Services îËÌ 101 Department local agricultural production still played an important role in Hong Kong. From the end of the 1910s to the early years of the 1920s, as crops in Hong Kong were seriously damaged by typhoons and imported rice failed to arrive in time, the price of rice rose sharply and resulted in a scramble for rice.51 This caused havoc in Hong Kong. When typhoons came one after another within a short period of time, the losses sustained by the commerce and industry were even more noticeable.
Fig. 2.34 Typhoon Ellen hit Hong Kong in ¤ 2.34ÿ1983 # 9 ž 7 ‰ 10 J¢'(deÛ September 1983, killing 10 people and injuring á‡É 10 ¬ 333 ?>&'¯§¨©ªª« ! 333. Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History " # $ % Fig. 2.33 Typhoon York, the most recent ¤ 2.33ÿ“#3éÝ(10ldeçPP1999 & typhoon requiring the hoisting of No. 10 typhoon #9ž16J¢'%°¦8ƒqFÌ[î;ÂI ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past signal, hit Hong Kong on 16 September 1999. ñU(ªÔîz¡f>½èJ… One-third of the window panels of the Inland 102 Revenue Tower in Wan Chai were destroyed. 103 Courtesy Sing Tao Daily Retail activities temporarily came to a halt and financial markets were also e“¢'>%ª9[\G>m°(·X%•FB©«¼(•‡B%¾«Ä 52 closed down. Economic activities were disrupted for a prolonged period of Õ_Ö%_¢×_ZáØÙ_F‰Ôîšzfj>•hm°%•Ä!8æ•Ùñ time and the economy suffered badly as a result. During economic downturns, ÚÛ>}…Þ 1962 #Üse4>%•Ä!8(JÊ» 15 'O;‰ 30 'O%! commodity prices rose on the pretext of typhoon. The life of the lower classes 55 •=µšÎªš> •
Island accounted for 54% of the total cost for Hong Kong. The corresponding * 1937#טÑù^)é©#9 ž 2 Je4hyS()*z¾CÜ?'èÙ (103O)_Ú percentages of typhoon cost for the New Territories, Kowloon and New yÙ (3.6 3O)_WÚyÙ (5.7 3O)bWØÙ (2.7 3O)%6'Uìz¾ 22 3O%&ß àsC 1938 #½~#ê˜V> Kowloon were 25%, 9% and 12% respectively. Looking at the expenditure ! caused by typhoons of each year, the most severe economic losses occurred in •‚Aøù " Hong Kong Observatory, ‘Letter from Director of Royal Observatory to Mr M. C. Hart’, File No. 32, # 1937. Including the provision of the HK$220,000 made in the 1938 fiscal Meteorological Messages & Storm Warnings (Typhoon Signals), Hong Kong, 4 April 1938. $ year, the amount of money spent in repairing the damage inflicted by the % typhoon and rainstorms of 2 September 1937 amounted to HK$585,734, & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past equivalent to 39% of the total expenditure for the 10-year period from 1928 to 1937. Table 2.9 shows the details of the economic losses caused by the 104 105 typhoons and associated rainstorms for the 1928 to 1937 period. Table 2.9 Expenditure Caused by Typhoons and Rainstorms (1928–1937) CŒ2(&'wx%dehyS(:j%×{•C)*æá%á=vÜbv (Unit: Hong Kong dollar) Year Hong Kong Island Kowloon New Kowloon New Territories Hong Kong TY’(Dq_)*éÀ¼H{¹š>OP~•Æðƒvde¢'("ŸH’§ 1928 35,182 (36%) 3,361 (3%) 25,015 (25%) 35,677 (36%) 99,235 š%CH(â+ãÞä.%9:o 1980 #$F>%8º?•(¼©;µ ž% 1929 41,344 (39%) 11,246 (10%) 21,566 (20%) 32,623 (31%) 106,779 1930 60,335 (54%) 2,408 (2%) 22,325 (20%) 26,286 (24%) 111,354 ðƒvde(å9àZJ«Òde¢'%^•sææó+bY•ÅŽª[¯ç, 1931 56,486 (40%) 19,574 (14%) 11,838 (8%) 52,937 (38%) 140,835 ª2èE%ü¤¦ââ^_,wx(éêb"P> 1932 33,384 (74%) 3,896 (9%) 3,245 (7%) 4,689 (10%) 45,214 1933 16,935 (75%) 1,099 (5%) 1,458 (6%) 3,216 (14%) 22,708 1934 102,156 (76%) 14,069 (11%) 9,525 (7%) 7,699 (6%) 133,449 1935 27,163 (69%) 3,306 (8%) 4,449 (11%) 4,684 (12%) 39,602 1936 96,528 (45%) 31,990 (15%) 26,589 (13%) 57,622 (27%) 212,729 1937* 215,994 (59%) 29,268 (8%) 31,035 (9%) 89,437 (24%) 365,734 u„ Total 685,507 (54%) 120,217 (9%) 157,045 (12%) 314,870 (25%) 1,277,639 * The 1937 expenditure did not include the economic losses caused by the typhoon on 2 September: Hong —µ¥¶R,µAéÝ(e’T%UxµA;›(“<%|}•‚Zë%¯A’ Kong Island (HK$100,000); Kowloon (HK$36,000); New Kowloon (HK$57,000); New Territories (HK$27,000); totalling HK$220,000 for the whole of Hong Kong. This amount was reflected in the 1938 “yS(4ì%ù¾ðde«>OP&'(ž“›ñcá¾Üí%+Hª2(ž financial year.
Source: “›•’šP6#¯Üž“› 2,221 îâ(òñUª %vPª9”2(“4% Hong Kong Observatory, ‘Letter from Director of Royal Observatory to Mr M. C. Hart’, File No. 32, = 1972 #(“4hyS'èèj_]É_ÏаšmÙ(j›ö•%ª’1) Meteorological Messages & Storm Warnings (Typhoon Signals), Hong Kong, 4 April 1938. ¯B%‰ŒLï+mð>9:•#(W¸%&'ðƒb}½•CHe“«¢(ã Þ>2QRo1884‰2002#a•¯#A
Heavy Rainstorms Tropical cyclones, apart from causing strong winds, also bring plenty of rain. Statistics indicate that damage brought by heavy rainstorms is comparable to that caused by typhoons. As the temporal distribution of rainfall in Hong ! " Kong is very uneven, a day’s rainfall can amount to a quarter of the annual # average rainfall of 2,221 mm. Some severe rainstorms, such as those which $ caused serious landslides at the Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island, Kwun Tong % and Shau Kei Wan in 1972, still evoke great fear among those who have & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past witnessed such disasters. Thus, every summer, adequate precautions must be taken against typhoons and rainstorms. Table 2.10 records the highest daily 106 Fig. 2.35 Central after a rainstorm in May ¤ 2.35ÿ1889 # 5 ž’“>(DÕ>&'¯ 107 rainfall during the period of 1884 to 2002. 1889. Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History §¨©ªª« Table 2.10 Ten Days With the Highest Daily Rainfall (1884–2002) # 2.10ÿÙ; •‚Aø? &'2QR¥¦2a> ! Fig. 2.36 The aftermath of a rainstorm in May ¤ 2.36ÿ1889 # 5 ž’“>(&'>&'¯ " 1889. Courtesy Hong Kong Museum of History §¨©ªª« # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past ▲ Fig. 2.37 A road surface collapsed under the force ¤ 2.37ÿñ The tenth highest rainfall for a single day was 20 May 1989, when 323 mm of Ù@ 1989# 5ž 20J(ž“›8+ 323îâÒ9de¢'•ySª¶ò’“( rainfall was recorded due to heavy downpours brought by the onslaught of +./åÙ@ 1989 # 5 ž 20 J(deóáÎ_ 1971 # 8 ž 17 J(tÞ ( # 2.11ÿ¯#“4yS”2?•2alì (1884–2002 #) Table 2.11 Casualties Caused by Heavy Rainstorms (1884–2002) ?@ ˆ„‰ (Š‹) ba^c ef^c d`^c XŒ^c Order Date Amount of Number of Number of Number of Number of 1 1972 # 6 ž 16 ‰ 18 J 16 J: 206 150 Ø 93 4,845 Rainfall Deaths People People Disaster 17 J: 214 (mm) Missing Injured Victims 18 J: 233 1 16–18 Jun 1972 16th : 206 150 – 93 4,845 2 1966 6 11 13 11 :786448296,183 17th : 214 # ž ‰ J J 12 : 383 18th : 233 J 13 J:34 2 11–13 Jun 1966 11th : 78 64 48 29 6,183 12th : 383 3 1959 # 6 ž 12 ‰ 15 J 12 J:9746216011,729 13th : 34 13 J: 176 3 12–15 Jun 1959 12th : 97 46 21 60 11,729 14 J: 182 13th : 176 15 J: 270 14th : 182 4 1889 # 5 ž 28 ‰ 30 J 28 J:1427 17 6 Ø 15th : 270 29 J: 321 4 28–30 May 1889 28th : 14 27 17 6 – 30 J: 521 29th : 321 5 1992 # 5 ž 8 ‰ 10 J 8 J: 324 8 1 11 2,000 30th : 521 9 J:16 5 8–10 May 1992 8th : 324 8 1 11 2,000 10 J:9 9th : 16 10th : 9 6 1982 # 8 ž 16 ‰ 18 J 16 J: 334 7 8 16 1,460 17 :80 6 16–18 Aug 1982 16th : 334 7 8 16 1,460 J 18 :48 17th : 80 J 18th : 48 7 1994 # 7 ž 22 ‰ 24 J 22 J: 297 6 2 3 20,000 7 22–24 Jul 1994 22nd : 297 6 2 3 20,000 23 J: 195 23rd : 195 24 J: 119 24th : 119 8 1965 # 9 ž 27 ‰ 28 J 27 J: 326 5 3 8 3,000 8 27–28 Sep 1965 27th : 326 5 3 8 3,000 28 J:16 28th : 16 9 1885 # 6 ž 12 ‰ 13 J 12 J: 321 2 Ø 1 Ø 9 12–13 Jul 1885 12th : 321 2 – 1 – 13 J:13 ! 13th : 13 10 1983 6 17 18 17 : 347 1 22 579 " 10 17–18 Jun 1983 17th : 347 1 – 22 579 # ž ‰ J J Ø 18 :4 # 18th : 4 J $ Sources: •‚Aø? Chen, T. Y., The Severe Rainstorms in Hong Kong During % Rainfall records are provided by the Hong Kong Observatory. For human casualty figures, see Chen T. Y., The ž“›2aO&'2QR Fig. 2.40 Burst nullah on Hill Road, Shek Tong ¤ 2.40ÿ•ÉeÙjÓà+zfÕäÕ1926 Tsui (18 July 1926). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR # 7 ž 18 JÖ>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª Public Records Office « Fig. 2.38 Debris of a collapsed street after a ¤ 2.38ÿ®¯jÕ•¤HèjÙ±ÖPjñ’ landslide in Tai Ping Shan (now western Mid- H>(™¦Õ1926 # 7 žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ»« Levels) in July 1926. Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk- man ! " # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.39 Workers clearing the debris of collapsed ¤ 2.39ÿ!8ÚP—)jñ’H>(4Ù Fig. 2.41 Extensive flooding caused by a ¤ 2.41ÿ1926# 7 ž 18J(’“yS”2< 112 buildings (July 1926). Courtesy Dr Tong Cheuk- Õ1926 # 7 žÖ>·¸¹ºŠ»« rainstorm (18 July 1926). Courtesy Hong Kong O>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« 113 man SAR Public Records Office Fig. 2.42 Workers making emergency repairs ¤ 2.42ÿ!8.ÚP2°à+%/*.0ÚP while women used the water to wash clothing (July ¿£“<123 (1926#7ž)>&'5ö·~ 1926). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records Ù¯§Ë̪ª« Fig. 2.44 Flooding in Happy Valley (19 July ¤ 2.44ÿ,OmP1926#7ž19J’“>¦ Office 1926). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Public Records S-Ñ>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« Office Fig. 2.43 St Francis Street in Wan Chai after a ¤ 2.43ÿ°¦I .~ÎP1926#7ž19J rainstorm (19 July 1926). Courtesy Hong Kong ’“>7™>&'5ö·~Ù¯§Ë̪ª« SAR Public Records Office Between 11 and 13 June 1966, heavy rainstorms resulted in 64 deaths, ! 48 persons missing, and 29 injured. The number of affected people amounted " to 6,183 and the affected areas included Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Castle Peak, # $ Yuen Long, the outlying islands, Shau Kei Wan, Aberdeen, Causeway Bay, % Kennedy Town and Ngau Tau Kok in Kowloon. The situation was more & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past serious on Hong Kong Island. In the Aberdeen area alone, 1,200 people were affected.58 In the New Territories, particularly in Tai Po and Yuen Long, Fig. 2.45 Landslide on Hong Kong Island on ¤ 2.45ÿ1972 # 6 ž 20 J'èÙ§Žzf7 114 20 June 1972. Courtesy Hong Kong SAR ä>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ 115 farmland was seriously damaged. According to newspapers, 95% of the paddy Information Services Department fields and 50% of the vegetable fields in Tai Po were flooded and destroyed. In Yuen Long, 35% of the rice fields were flooded. As agricultural products suffered severe losses, food prices rose accordingly.59 Fig. 2.47 Landslide on Peak Road at Magazine ¤ 2.47ÿj×Ójñ’H%‡Éj×ÙY’w Gap, one of many which paralysed traffic and x (1966#)>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ stranded residents on the Peak (1966). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department 1966 # 6 ž 11 J‰ 13 J(“4‡É 64 8¬•% 48 8¾å% 29 8I?% 4ƒ8¼Î6,1838%4Ù0b¯°_;K_ñj_Oÿ_àè_Ïа_&' ¦_¶·°_4Rmà%F‰Úy(5Ƶ%•ÔDxF'è47’s”2%< Fig. 2.46 Queen’s Road East strewn with ¤ 2.46ÿúÀ;ÓÏP1966#6ž12J’“ wrecked cars (12 June 1966). Courtesy Hong Kong E„Õä>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ ©&'¦ªÙ(4ƒ™Î1,2008>58 WØÁá%;KbOÿÙ¤Çzf(7ä SAR Information Services Department 67%|}…†…‡%;K+ 95% (·Çz<ç¬_ 50% (HÇzçj%•O ÿ(·Ç]+ 35% z<çÒ¤p©¸I:j%°©(€œ]ƒUÅ;> 59 During the rainstorms of 12 to 15 June 1959, 46 people were killed, 21 missing, and 60 injured. The number of affected people reached a historical 1959 # 6 ž 12 J‰ 15 J(’“%‡É 46 8¬•% 21 8¾å% 60 8I high of 11,729.60 Affected areas concentrated in Shau Kei Wan, Kennedy ?%4ƒ¼©©+§FA3@%šÎ 11,729 8% 60 4ÙÊËýDCÏа_4 Town, Western District, Aberdeen and Tai Hang of Causeway Bay on Hong Rmà_±Õ_&'¦b¶·°(;/%ÚyèèwFN<³_ÍÎ_Úyàb Kong Island; in Sham Shui Po, Hung Hom, Kowloon City and Yau Ma Tei z{mIJK’;%WØÁáwFOÿ473”2> in Kowloon; and in Yuen Long in the New Territories. 1947#‰ 2002#(50@#„%+2¥ 47089j›ö••¬•%61 yS During the 56–year period of 1947 to 2002, over 470 people were killed j›ö•(;9+@«%¶®’“ש4j(‡¤S%•B](m)ÕFbo3 in landslides.61 Landslides can be caused by different reasons. Prolonged heavy ¥¾98%Û©’“>j›ö•(Ê9>OP&'ž“›ñc¾Ü%#ž“›ç ! rain is only a trigger. The main causes of landslides after severe rainstorms are " s2,221îâ%“¸ýDC5‰9ž%+9J+% ! " # $ Fig. 2.50 A rare sight of motor vehicles swept ¤ 2.50ÿ•µà²Î1966#6ž12J“4‡ down the slope in Ming Yuen Street, North Point É;›õój>%?îC§ŽD@(A™>& % (12 June 1966). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR '5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ & Information Services Department ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.49 An aerial view of the Kwun Tong– ¤ 2.49ÿ]ÉBCD1972#6ž18J“4> Sau Mau Ping landslide area (18 June 1972). (<=¤>&'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ 118 Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Services 119 Department R23(98T%+9“¸D(6T©8syS(%]=s•™•Dˆ-( 87%;›Eò_Fò(!±%:j,§Ž(”GH%•GŒC¾”GHŽUÅ( kl%Ÿ©IHSj›ö•(ùª;9> 1972 # 6ž"#Ó(j›ö•%FbB CD(Žá45Hò %Ÿ©Æ¥•J‹üHòm+Ž>64 C2002#Ä'áî’ ;(8y§ŽL+ 54,000 µ> Fig. 2.51 A 13-storey building on Kotewall ¤ 2.51ÿÿ!Ó(ª$13æš(;AC1972 Road was swept away by the landslide, killing 71 # 6 ž 18 J(“4D¬¡%¼S 71 8¬•> people (18 June 1972). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR &'5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ Information Services Department ! " # $ % & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.52 Only half of another building on ¤ 2.52ÿÿ!Óùª$;Az§ŽÅ¬¡ A Fig. 2.53 Rescue workers excavating frantically ¤ 2.53ÿéê-.Cjñ’H>rBŠÆBÕ 120 Kotewall Road remained intact after being struck (;ACoU>(zfÕä (1972#6ž)>& at a landslide site (25 August 1976).Courtesy ä (1976 # 8 ž 25 J)>&'5ö·~Ù~• 121 by the toppled building higher up the slope (18 '5ö·~Ù~•WíîËÌ Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department WíîËÌ June 1972). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department Moreover, 60% of Hong Kong’s land area is made up of hill slopes. In Hong Kong, most of the high ground consists of steep hilly terrains. The wind- eroded loose materials on the slopes, after being hit by strong winds and severe rainstorms, will slide down quickly as loose rubble and soil, causing the collapse of large areas of rock surfaces.63 Such a phenomenon is more significant in the colluvium belt of hilly areas where granite rocks come into contact with volcanic rocks. Fig. 2.55 The thunderstorms in May 1984 ¤ 2.55ÿ1984 # 5 ž(’“ySÄgmÙ< caused widespread flooding. This photograph shows O%¤s'èèjÙ 1980 #$C~•bðƒ@ÁáCH %’“(S•H;;J«?1998 # 6ž 9J‰ 12J%Ä'’“ƒõ¾¹Ò1998#6ž9J A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.54 347 mm of rainfall was recorded on ¤ 2.54ÿ1983# 6 ž 17JÄ'a• 347îâ &'6#(¯ÜÜês¯#23ê%ž¯Ü¥ÜMN¯#15.8‰28.8ê>Xª9 122 17 June 1983. One person was killed and 22 “›2a%©ï“4‡É 1 8¬•% 22 8I `=ÔA(”•J+%0.FyS8ºz¾>|}2QR(2a%o 1884 ‰ 123 were injured during this rainstorm. Courtesy Hong ?>&'¯§¨©ªª« Kong Museum of History 2002 #%&'3•O(J+(¥Üs¯# 0 ê (ôõ÷ 2.12)> Apart from natural factors, some of the accidents during the rainy seasons # 2.12ÿ&'¯#3$¥Ü2alì (1884–2002 #) are due to man-made factors, which destabilise the hill slopes. Examples are …† ?@ F• (•+‘) the large-scale soil excavation and land reclamation works carried out to cope 1 1893 # 1 ž 18 J 0.0 with the rapidly expanding population. Buildings constructed on unstable 2 1893 # 1 ž 17 J 0.3 3 1893 1 16 0.8 slopes also induce landslips. The landslides which occurred in different places in # ž J 4 1893 # 1 ž 15 J 2.2 June 1972, including Po Shan Road, and the large-scale collapse of slope surfaces 5 1957 # 2 ž 11 J 2.4 64 in Sau Mau Ping were caused by excessive and reckless land development. In 6 1893 # 1 ž 19 J 3.1 2002, Hong Kong still has 54,000 sizeable man-made slopes. 6 1900 # 1 ž 9 J 3.1 In the 1980s, due to the multiple preventive measures undertaken by the 6 1955 # 1 ž 11 J 3.1 7 1901 2 5 3.6 government and the public, the threat of landslides arising from rainstorms # ž J 8 1917 # 1 ž 9 J 3.8 was greatly reduced. In 1998, there was prolonged heavy rain between 9 and 8 1948 # 1 ž 26 J 3.8 12 June. The torrential rain on 9 June resulted in 411 mm of rainfall, the third 8 1957 # 2 ž 10 J 3.8 highest daily rainfall between 1884 and 2002. There was no major damage 8 1972 # 2 ž 9 J 3.8 caused by this rainstorm; only one brave citizen was killed while trying to save •‚Aø? another person. In the late 1990s, the most adverse influence caused by heavy &'2QR¥¦2a> rain was flooding due to blocking of drainage systems. Flooding was particularly serious in Mong Kok, Kowloon, and in the northern part of the New Territories. ‹!…†`Þ+Ž•O¥¾hµA(45%wH¤92¥•OhyS(?• 2a%-¾be4À“4>••O¥¾‡É8º?•(7ä%=“4ª©%@H ŠC¶õ¼2¥Ü•O(H„ (ôõ÷ 2.13)> Very Cold Weather The annual mean temperature of Hong Kong is around 23ºC and the monthly # 2.13ÿ&'¯#•O¥¾?•2alì (1884–2002 #) mean temperatures range from 15.8 to 28.8ºC. However, some sudden cold …† ?@ $’F• (•+‘) ba^c d`^c spells can cause loss of life. According to the Observatory, from 1884 to 2002, 1 1996 # 2 ž 24 J 8.1 19 1 2 1999 12 21 8.3 14 the lowest temperature ever recorded was 0ºC (see Table 2.12). # ž J Ø 3 1996 # 2 ž 25 J 10.7 12 Ø 4 1996 # 2 ž 23 J 8.5 11 2 Table 2.12 Lowest Minimum Temperatures (1884–2002) 4 1999 # 12 ž 19 J 12.3 11 1 Order Date Temperature (ºC) 5 1996 # 2 ž 22 J 7.1 10 Ø 118Jan 1893 0.0 6 1957 # 2 ž 11 J 2.4 7 Ø 217Jan 1893 0.3 6 2001 # 12 ž 23 J 11.3 7 Ø 316Jan 1893 0.8 ! 415Jan 1893 2.2 7 1999 # 12 ž 22 J 6.7 6 1 " 511Feb 1957 2.4 8 1975 # 12 ž 16 J 4.8 5 Ø # 619Jan 1893 3.1 8 1999 # 12 ž 20 J 10.4 5 1 69Jan 1900 3.1 $ 9 2001 # 12 ž 22 J 8.9 4 Ø 611Jan 1955 3.1 % 75Feb 1901 3.6 •‚Aø? & 89Jan 1917 3.8 ü;€…ý%üà…ý%ü½èJ…ý%üþ#J…ýš%P’ŽJE(…‡> ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past &'2QR¥¦2a> 826Jan 1948 3.8 124 810Feb 1957 3.8 125 89Feb 1972 3.8 Source: Hong Kong Observatory meteorological records. According to figures from newspapers, the casualties caused by cold 1996 # 2 ž 22 J‰ 2 ž 25 JªÈUò2(¹¼•P%UyS 52 8¬ weather are far less than those caused by typhoons and heavy rainstorms. •% 3 8I?%ÔÕ&ÈJ+(¥Ü8+¯# 8 ê%Æ 1884 #FA3OJ+ Deaths due to very cold weather, as in the case of rainstorms, usually occur ¯# 0 ê%’Qˆ->ùªÈ9•O¥Ü•O\8¼’@(J+s 1999 #( when a cold spell lasts for a few days (see Table 2.13). 12 ž 19 J‰ 22 J%U+ 36 8R¬% 3 8I?>• 2001 # 12 ž 22 J‰ 23 J (•O¥Ü%]yS118O\(7ä>78S ÀA(©•O¥Ü‡É6T¬• Table 2.13 Human Casualties Caused by Very Cold Weather (1884–2002) (J+%0ŸHŠC‰Ù×2®E%=1996#(12ž%1999#(12žb2001 Order Date Temperature (ºC) Number of Deaths Number of Injuries #(12ž%|}…†`Þ%üIÈJ+9¥¾•O•O\(I5B%;ŸsM# 124Feb 1996 8.1 19 1 8bTU>MVB0W7ð%•9¥¾•O%IH1@Ü•Xkl(YZ•\ 221Dec1999 8.3 14 – 325Feb 1996 10.7 12 – º>ü¤¦^_,87M•%[ëM8ˆb%#MB\]ì^(7äJ‡”2? 423Feb 1996 8.5 11 2 1996#Ä'+I3a[ëM8ëPªÅ@'lë%•wxUJ_sì^M8(\ 419Dec1999 12.3 11 1 522Feb 1996 7.1 10 – £`¿‰~•1ÅÒFabUHM(]c%C'8Êd<=be$ûf5ʇ( 611Feb 1957 2.4 7 – 7ä %ú_zgh> 623Dec2001 11.3 7 – 722Dec1999 6.7 6 1 816Dec1975 4.8 5 – 820Dec1999 10.4 5 1 922Dec2001 8.9 4 – Sources: Hong Kong Observatory meteorological records. Reports on the day of the incidents in Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily, Ta Kung Pao, Wah Kiu Yat Po, etc. Fifty-two people died and three were injured during the four cold days between 22 and 25 February 1996. In fact, the temperatures during this cold spell were around 8ºC which were much higher than the coldest record of 0ºC. Another period of very cold weather that caused considerable deaths occurred on 19 to 22 December 1999, with a death toll of 36 and three injured persons. On 22 to 23 December 2001, 11 people were killed by a cold spell. It is quite surprising that deaths caused by cold weather were still happening even in the late twentieth century. According to newspapers, most of the victims of the cold spells in 1996, 1999 and 2001 (all in the month of December) were elderly people and babies. The elderly have weaker immune systems and the Fig. 2.56 The lowest temperature on 23 February ¤ 2.56ÿ1996# 2 ž 23J(3$¥Ü×+¯ cold weather often induces fatal respiratory problems. This phenomenon reflects 1996 was 8.5ºC and it caused 11 deaths and two # 8.5ê%©J+ 11 8R¬% 2 8I?>;€ ! the ageing Hong Kong population, with increasing numbers of old people injuries. Courtesy Ta Kung Pao … " living alone, or receiving insufficient care. In 1996, Hong Kong had 30,000 # $ old people living alone in about 100 housing estates. The responsibility of % caring the elderly is gradually shifting from society to the government. The & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past traditional idea of raising children as insurance for a comfortable retirement has gradually faded out due to the ascendance of individualism and the emphasis 126 127 placed on the nuclear family. Very cold weather does not only pose a considerable threat to infants ”•(¥Ü%¾Xv0W7’ð(M#8'Na+ªå(S•H%]yS¾ and old people with weaker immune systems, it can also cause significant «()*z¾>I2¥(JK%±H_¢O_ijÀdœšRj_R¬(¤¦’ economic losses. Damage to vegetables, flowers and fruits and deaths of poultry §k0Ò@¤p©ÞI:j%T•J«%SÄÅ;%‡É€œ’=%•=µxF and fish are very common under cold weather conditions. As a result, supplies 65 1950 #$b 1960 #$’;%;µlšÎªš> 1980 #$F>%;Y•(¤ decrease and prices soar due to increased costs. Price increases were more ¿¬)é±H_²œ@ODÑ;Ý"7%•Äm¤ƒ(T•›×5JDbh°¬ pronounced in the 1950s and 1960s when the prices nearly doubled.65 From ª'’N(ð‹%€°¬€œg¥IÄm2¥JK•Å=B]ƒUJ«%1990# the 1980s onwards, the price fluctuations of agricultural products were greatly 66 reduced as most of the products including vegetables and meat were imported $®%±H9•O¥Ü‡É(=µ¯Ü+òS> from mainland China and supplies from local farmers only met a small portion of the total requirements. In the 1990s, vegetable price rises due to very cold 66 weather were limited to 40% on average. “D ô3&'6#(¥¾FW¸’-% 5ž‰ 10 ž(¯Ü¥ÜÜšP¯# 25 ê%X Very Hot Weather m—¥¾vwxhyS(:j%’ve4“4'•O¥¾s$>|}2QR2a% Although summer is the longest season in Hong Kong, with a mean temperature 1884 ‰ 2002 # # 2.15ÿ&'¯#3˜{2a (1884 ‰ 2002 #) …† ?@ ˜™š‘ (%) 1 1973 # 12 ž 31 J 14 2 1965 # 12 ž 12 J 15 3 1971 # 1 ž 9 J 16 3 1973 # 12 ž 30 J 16 3 1977 # 3 ž 4 J 16 4 1971 # 11 ž 17 J 17 4 1975 # 2 ž 21 J 17 4 1995 # 11 ž 24 J 17 5 1969 # 12 ž 10 J 18 5 1971 # 1 ž 4 J 18 5 1973 # 12 ž 27 J 18 5 1976 # 1 ž 11 J 18 5 1981 # 1 ž 13 J 18 •‚Aø: &'2QR¥¦2a> |}…†•‚%CÅ÷2¥5ö˜{(J+%yS8º?•(7äù¾…” 2%×+ 1a*|C 1967# 1ž 15J(¤4DÄŠ%69 9¤4•I?(8¼w + 98%¾åB 1a>70 OP¥¾˜{‡É(j¤%JK0}Ç% 1973# 12ž 31J%C14%(’vxê %—<°HŠ;¤%40@„glzïf>CˆÌ( ! Gª~%;•€7Ù_g1(€7Ù(j¤%Uïf•g70@3‚%;¤3bò " 71 # máîÎ 700 @Ƀ% ©+§FA3”2(j¤> 1992 # 11 ž 10 J%’v $ xê×+19ê%üª2ÜUHŠ,68„j¤%;KW…†_±‡bOˆj(‰ % 1%U+¼8¯Áâ(áîzj¤ïf> 72 1976 # 1 ž 11 J’vxê×+ & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past Fig. 2.57 18 August 1990 was one of the hottest ¤ 2.57ÿ1990# 8 ž 18Js6'3m—(Ô 18%%§JnHŠ,18„j¤%U+400ɃòmI:j%ðf(•gU 103 days on record, with the highest temperature reaching Dª2%©J3š¥Üs¯#36.1ê%¤Dh 73 130 36.1ºC . The temperature remained at 35ºC at vŠ‹ 6 H¥ÜLšÎ 35 ê¯#>;€… ‚> 131 6 PM. Courtesy Ta Kung Pao Dry Weather and Droughts The climate of Hong Kong is rather wet. The monthly mean relative humidity ranged between 51% and 92% in the 1884 to 1939 period. The driest month was in January 1918 with a mean relative humidity of 51%. From 1947 to 2002, the monthly mean relative humidity was between 45% and 91%. The driest month was in January 1963 with a mean relative humidity of 45%. Although days with very low relative humidity are uncommon in Hong Kong, there were still 13 days with relative humidity lower than or equal to 18% (see Table 2.15). Table 2.15 Days with Lowest Relative Humidity (1884–2002) Order Date Relative Humidity (%) 131Dec 1973 14 212Dec 1965 15 39Jan 1971 16 330Dec 1973 16 34Mar 1977 16 417Nov 1971 17 421Feb 1975 17 Fig. 2.58 Fire hazard indicator showing ¤ 2.58ÿ¤4*X"#~lC˜{(2¥ H 424Nov 1995 17 extremely dry conditions (17 July 1972). Courtesy Ñ (1972 # 7 ž 17 J)>&'5ö·~Ù~• 510Dec 1969 18 Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department WíîËÌ 54Jan 1971 18 527Dec 1973 18 511Jan 1976 18 513Jan 1981 18 Source: Hong Kong Observatory meteorological records. Based on information gleaned from newspapers, there were not many casualties caused by the very dry days listed in Table 2.15. Only one girl was killed in a fire that broke out on 15 January 1967;69 another nine people were injured by fires and one person was reported missing.70 However, hill fires caused by dry weather can have serious consequences. On 31 December 1973, with a relative humidity reading of 14%, a fire broke out in Clear ! " Water Bay and over 40 wooden huts were destroyed. A week before that # disaster, a hill fire destroyed 700,000 trees in the Tai Lam and Pat Heung $ afforestation regions and affected more than 700 acres of land.71 This was % the biggest hill fire ever recorded in Hong Kong. On 10 November 1992, & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past the relative humidity was only 19%, and there were 68 reports of hill fires. Fig. 2.59 Map showing distribution of hill fire ¤ 2.59ÿWØb;=jIj¤ïfmÙñc¤ Affected areas included Bride’s Pool in Tai Po and the countryside of Sai sites on Lantau Island and in the New Territories (1973 # 12 ž)>&'5ö·~Ù~•Wíî 132 (December 1973). Courtesy Hong Kong SAR ËÌ 133 Kung and Ma On Shan. Altogether over several thousand square metres of Information Services Department land was scorched.72 On 11 January 1976, the Observatory recorded a relative Rj¤T%C¥¾˜{(¸<%Šé3IS•(©$ mæ(MÅŒ> humidity of 18%, and on that day 18 hill fires broke out, damaging 400 1950#$‰1970#$%§87•ˆb!XŽŽ[•%ëECglÙ(ëƒb• 73 acres of land and burning down 100,000 trees. +¿‘©¬(!è;A’š*ª[%9¤4•÷û••(4ƒ¼rjFlì> •˜{¥¾Æ¤4©“+g¥(Žä”F +Ž&'+§FA8º?•3”2( ¤4b§J2¥7ä(2a (ôõ÷ 2.16) (•‚'• # 2.16ÿ&'¯A3”2¤4HŠm:ƧJ¥¾2a (1851 ‰ 2002 #) ?@ ›XB:œ• ˜™š‘ $%F• ba^c d`^c (%)(•+‘) 1918 # 2 ž 26 J ŸO® 89 22 600 Ø 1947 # 2 ž 4 J ±Ûl0• 72 18 200 Ø 1948 # 9 ž 22 J ±ÕÏÛ€•¾ 95 27 139 Ø 1996 # 11 ž 20 J ¡¢y¿;A 57 23 40 80 1971 # 10 ž 30 J »"³–£ 62 25 34 10 1992 # 2 ž 3 J •£•ƒD$ 90 21 22 Ø 1929 # 3 ž 11 JÉú¤í 66 22 ¬? 30 m8 1851 # 12 ž 28 J &'è 89 Ø ¬? 20 m8 1997 # 1 ž 25 J dZe"¥¦Wª$ 71 13 15 Ø §² OK í 1972 # 5 ž 11 J ±Ù•Ée¨$²Â 94 29 12 Ø 1981 1 20 70 18 11 Fig. 2.60 A Royal Air Force Wessex helicopter ¤ 2.60ÿúûÇÞ¿£g=;•êÚyjj¤ # ž J •µF¨†Ó Ø dropping some 1,400 litres of water on a fire in the Õä>¤D(<ž•ïç•Þ< 1400 €= ª$!X;A Kowloon Hill area (October 1979). Courtesy Hong (1979 # 10 ž)>&'5ö·~Ù~•Wíî •‚Aø? Kong SAR Information Services Department ËÌ ü;€…ý%üà…ý%ü½èJ…ý%üþ#J…ýš%P’ŽJE(…‡> û©%ü&';Ì`ý%•0%8ƒJ…ÑÒw% 1988 #> &'2QR¥¦2a> úª_«Ú¬%ü&'62aý%&'%Dþ(Ã% 1997 #> Apart from hill fires during the dry season, the lives of the lower classes can also be endangered. From the 1950s to 1970s, when Hong Kong’s population was expanding rapidly and when industries started to take off, people living in wooden huts and factories storing inflammable materials were »Å÷•v%9¤4•HŠ”28º?•(6T%–Ƙ{(¥¾+g¥Ž exposed to high fire risks. It is difficult to estimate the number of people who ä%•¯§Å6Ƙ{¥¾—ÅŽ¶(”2¤4%n×+ 1961# 1ž 16JPÍ lost their homes because of fires. To determine whether there is a direct Îj'Ó(¤4>©ï¤4+68zð¬%118I?%1,200@„glzïf% 74 correlation between the outbreak of fires and very dry weather, Table 2.16 4ƒ8¼@Î 11,000@8%•§J(¥Üs¯# 17ê%’vxê×+ 28%> ! lists the fires with the largest number of casualties and the weather conditions ‹!•_%ª9yS”2zf(¤4%@’8s˜™(6TÌŠ> " at the time of the outbreaks. # ¤4(HŠš3I8s98JK’;%9:87’âý_ëEÕF’›(g $ % lÙb!èÙ%C 1950 #$‰ 1970 #$„%HŠ¤4(ð‹’š> 1980 #$ & F>%eœ(6Tú_J«% 1990 #HŠ(V„”2¤4%¡¢ÊËѤC² ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past 2;A(H¤•+ú²%v¤’Ó•ì^6!œfH‰]%ªSÌ€RyS”2 134 135 (8º?•> Table 2.16 Most Serious Fires in Hong Kong and the Prevailing Weather Conditions ô3&'(2¥;Y•H„^x@“%Xª9˜™(#Æ%vwx]xy (1851–2002) Date Place Relative Highest Number Number S2;(:j>OPÄ'FÜ\]23•<•øTðƒ®£%srm<(•ø¾ Humidity (%) Temperature (ºC) of Deaths of Injuries .%~•P1863#üýŒy8!< %•¯23“<%F•™ðƒJDUh> 26 Feb 1918 Racecourse 89 22 600 – 4 Feb 1947 Vessel Siam 72 18 200 – oÙÚ×2DEFA%&'(87¾qˆ-%~•GŒ< (°;!±%C#ž 22 Sep 1948 The godown of 95 27 139 – “›Î ¯Ü<¯• 2,221 îâ'FÅ(#•%±²T•©#hh>XCª9 Wing On Company in Western District 2€¾yñ(™#%³;(< %8æ•;•÷§> 1884‰ 2002#„%$P 20 Nov1996 Garley Building in Jordan 57 23 40 80 1,600 îâž“›(ð‹ô×5 7% ¸$%“<•B©’§ä´%XF 1960 # 30 Oct 1971 Jumbo Seafood 62 25 34 10 Restaurant 2¥ 300 3(87%µ‹¯<›×+ 7,006 3TÁâ(< ÒT¶6'ðƒ® 3 Feb 1992 Shek Kong 90 21 22 – Detention Centre £ •‚Aøù From Table 2.16, it can be seen that fires that cause severe human casualties )À3%ü&'T<ªÅ›Ù#¯§ÁÂ…#ý%&'%~•¡[Ã% 2001 #%ö÷ I Ø 3 % I Ø 5 % bear very little relation to dry weather conditions. Throughout Hong Kong’s II Ø 1 % II Ø 4 % III Ø 1 % III Ø 5 > Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Statistics 1947–1967, Hong Kong, 1961, p. 14. history, the only fire that was linked to dry weather conditions was the one Hong Kong Observatory, Monthly Total Rainfall (mm) at the Hong Kong Observatory, Hong Kong Government, 1884–2001. that broke out on 16 January 1961 on Valley Road, Hung Hom. Six people Water Supplies Department, Hong Kong’s Water, Hong Kong, Government Printer, 1996, p. 93. were burnt to death, 11 were injured and 1,200 wooden huts were razed to the ground. Up to 11,000 people were affected. The temperature on that day was 17ºC with a relative humidity of 28%.74 Most of the devastating fires |}~•2a (÷ 2.17)% 1884 ‰ 2002 #&'3˜™(#•s 1963 #% 6#מ“›×+901îâ%’•#¯Üž“›«59%%•©#6'ÊË<É( ! were largely due to human negligence. " ׯ›s 2,547 3TÁâ%F§H 355 3(87ì…%•8•J¯Ü×¹ 0.020 Since fire outbreaks were usually due to man-made factors, thus densely # TÁâ(° Table 2.17 Ten Years With Lowest Recorded Rainfall Year Annual Rainfall Population Reservoir Capacity Daily Water Consumption (mm) (million) (million m3) per Person (m3) 1963 901 3.55 25.47 0.020 1895 1,164 0.24 4.31 0.049 1954 1,367 2.40 54.02 0.062 1938 1,406 1.03 31.73 0.084 1901 1,417 0.28 5.85 0.057 1870 1,424 0.12 – – 1865 1,431 0.13 – – 1898 1,449 0.25 5.42 0.059 1967 1,571 3.80 100.54 0.072 1933 1,584 0.92 22.54 0.067 Sources: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Statistics 1947–1967, Hong Kong, 1961, p. 14. ! Ho Pui Yin, Hong Kong 150-year Water Supply Research Report, Hong Kong Government Printer, 2001, Fig. 2.61 1963 was the driest year on record ¤ 2.61 1963 #s&'+§FA3˜™(# " Table I–3, I–5, II–1, II–4, III–1, III–5. and water supply was restricted to four hours every •%~•s<¨°<_Õ+ 4 J 4 NHT<> # Hong Kong Observatory, Monthly Total Rainfall (mm) at the Hong Kong Observatory, Hong Kong Government, four days. This photograph shows the long queue ¤sëƒ.-0¾°<Âä>&'5ö·~Ù 1884–2001, Hong Kong Observatory. $ Water Supplies Department, Hong Kong’s Water, Hong Kong, Government Printer, 1996, p. 93. for fresh water. Courtesy Hong Kong SAR ~•WíîËÌ % Information Services Department & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past 138 139 According to government records (Table 2.17), 1963 was the driest year in Hong Kong for the period of 1884 to 2002. In that year, the total rainfall /¨ was only 901 mm, 59% less than the normal annual precipitation. The reservoirs oÖFA%&'wx(H/n•Ã©áv¾qq«(o345(A•>¯A:j only had a capacity of 25,470,000 cubic metres of water. With a population of 73é(24Fe4_“4_™4sÊ?1874 _ 1906 _ 1937 _ 1962 #(e 3,550,000, each person only received a daily supply of 0.020 cubic metres on 4% 1972 #(“4% 1895 _ 1963 #(™4%¾XÄÒ÷¼ëƒ("ÅHº% average. This compared to the average daily water consumption per person vwxhyS()*z¾U©÷–÷ì> figure of 0.409 cubic metres in the 1990s — a difference of 20.5 times. Owing to the persistent drought, the government had to restrict water supply to four ¶#24%v$ mæ(ÊM¦N>CÙÚ×2 èE_‰Ù×2kE%2 hours every four days. The development of industry and commerce in Hong 4(%&B@së÷åh(@ƒ>1950#$‰1970#$%IÊM3;Bwsë Kong was mired in an extremely difficult situation. Many businesses that ECglÙ(ÆÂ;ž> , 1970 #$DEF>%§&')*(‰Š+’;E required substantial water consumption, such as restaurants and catering, dyeing G%~•CH24(67<=%8ƒ(ŠéÛw”å>áv24(Ç‚%&' and construction, were forced to close down. All normal social activities were wx»÷Èm¥IÅ2(·¸% ÉÊ;o3(5HÆËÍ•îáH1%üÓÆ temporarily suspended due to drinking water shortages. Every day, people ©’§Ì-(%eH8¦ÍÔ¤$wxÎóϧ("P>§D2QRЧ,’§ had to desperately look for drinking water and many people suffered injuries Ý2(µ\%F +Ž2QR(ÑTÆÒ6%8£6¶ÓÔ.ª9Õë> as a result of fights over it. Accidental deaths in brawls over fresh water were also rather common.75 Conclusion Throughout history, the development of Hong Kong society has resembled a series of responses to the never-ending list of natural disasters, with typhoons, rainstorms and droughts being the most destructive. The disasters brought on by the ferocious typhoons of 1874, 1906, 1937 and 1962, by the rainstorms of 1972, and by the droughts of 1895 and 1963, not only took many lives but also brought incalculable economic losses. Successive years of natural disasters have affected the lower classes the hardest. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many of the victims were itinerant fishermen. Between the 1950s and 1970s, people living in cottage areas were the main sufferers. After the mid-1970s, when Hong Kong’s economic conditions improved and the Hong Kong government’s capacity to prevent disasters increased, people’s lives became more stable. In ! " response to such natural catastrophes, Hong Kong society has evolved from # passively accepting them as punishments from Heaven to positively $ understanding the characteristics and patterns of nature and taking preventive % measures. This symbolises the scientific and technological advances made in a & ' A Review of Natural Disasters of the Past modern society, of which the Hong Kong Observatory has played an 140 indispensable role. The next chapter will discuss the establishment of the 141 Observatory and its functions.