Dec ember 2 01 0 • V ol 25 • No 1 1
In This Issue
PAGE
7
Hong Kong’s Nepali Community
PAGE
12
George Osborne
PAGE
13
A Carbon Tale of Three Cities
By Sam Powney
With
all the excitement surrounding the
tai feng（颱風）meaning a ‘lifting wind’.
as the wind tumbled walls, roofs, windows,
C40 gathering in Hong Kong and in the run up
Over 90% of typhoons aff f ecting this region
shop signs. Motorcar parts flew like pebbles.
to the international climate change conference
originate in the warm waters around the
Steel lampposts were bent almost at right
in Cancun, environmental concerns have
Philippine Sea, spinning their way landward
angles. A waist-high flood of stinking water
recently taken a firm hold of local media
in a range from almost directly east (initially
a n d m u d s e e p e d t u r g i d l y t h ro u g h t h e
attention. Coincidentally, on the 19th of
affecting the Philippines itself), north east
waterfront streets.’
November Hong Kong residents experienced
(affecting Vietnam, Hong Kong, the south
a most unusual natural phenomenon for this
China coast and Ta T iwan), north north-east
The year 1999 saw a spate of typhoons
area - a small but noticeable eart r hquake. But
(primarily affecting Japan), or due north
and bad weather which killed at least
environmental and meteorological experts
(aff f ecting only some remote Pacific islands).
1,289 people across the region and cost
are more intrigued about patterns in Hong
But observers have recognised a westerly
an estimated US$4.5 billion (at current
Kong’s more prevalent natural occurrence -
shift in typhoon patterns over the past 40
value, nearly HK$45.8 billion). That year one
the typhoon. We are now at the end of the
years, meaning a greater frequency in more
alone, Ty T phoon Yo Y rk, killed two people in
traditional typhoon season, and can look
tropical waters, but considerably fewer in
Hong Kong, injured another 500 and cost
back at what has been an unusually mild
the South China Sea.
Hong Kong an estimated HK$83 million. But for several years now there has been a
year in terms of tropical storms. There were
PAGE Ceilidh
Plus
22
14 typhoons in the Pacific this year which is,
The damage caused by typhoons in the past
noticeable lull. 2008 saw one torrential storm,
compared to an average of 26 to 27 annually
has been considerable; tropical cyclones
known as Ty T phoon Nuri, which caused
(since 1951), an unprecedented drop. In fact,
are known to kill more people and cause
considerable damage and again killed two
Hong Kong has enjoyed a period of relative
more insured losses than any other natural
people. But although a direct hit, it was
respite from typhoons for over a decade now,
disaster. The so-called ‘Great Ty T phoon’ of
not a particularly powerful typhoon and the
a fact that most residents will likely think of
1937 is sometimes considered Hong Kong’s
estimated financial loss to Hong Kong from
with nothing but relief.
worst, killing some eleven thousand people
Nuri was, in comparison, only around 3% of
- instruments in the observatory, capable
that caused by T Typhoon York.
No-one is sure where the word ‘typhoon’
of registering winds up to 125 mph, simply
f i r s t a p p e a re d . I t m a y c o m e f ro m t h e
broke down. A contemporary Time Magazine
One person always on the lookout for
ancient Greek word ty t y p hon which means
report described the scene, ‘Hong Kong’s
typhoons is 28-year-old, Gloucestershire-born
‘smoking’, or it may derive from the Chinese
business section became a sordid shambles
‘typhoon hunter’ James Reynolds. Reynolds
• Lifestyle • News • Events
(Continued on page 2)
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