An evaluation of Hong Kong’s tropical cyclone warning system

Hong Kong is frequently exposed to the destructive wind threats of tropical cyclones from the Western-North Pacific, mainly in summer season. The Tropical Cyclone Warning System (TCWS) has been working in Hong Kong since 1884. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the TCWS in Hong Kong has so far only been evaluated in limited aspects. This study is an exploratory attempt to evaluate holistically the performance of an existing TCWS in Hong Kong. Dennis Parker’s (1999) Criteria-development Matrix was adopted as an analytical framework to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the warning system. Our findings indicate that the TCWS of Hong Kong performed quite satisfactorily. Nonetheless, weaknesses in the current system were also identified which point to the absence of weather-related legislation and failures in recognizing the local needs. Future research agendas can be extended to the evaluative application of Criteria-development Matrix onto other siren systems in Hong Kong, China or other Asian cities and countries because the natural hazard and disaster risk management research is still largely western oriented. Copyright © 2012 University of Hong Kong Press.