In the days following the violent typhoon September 18, 1906, a lively controversy trips to Hong Kong: Royal Observatory, why did he not raised the alarm when it was created, precisely to prevent such tragedies?
The island of Hong Kong is situated on the coast of southern China (22 ° N, 114 ° E) in the middle of an area sub-tropical climate, hit regularly between August and October by typhoons. Their violence can cause great damage and especially cause casualties. The chronicle of Hong Kong is punctuated by stories of hurricanes, typhoons and hurricanes devastated the area.
Thus, the consul of France, four years after the opening of the consulate, has already reported a hurricane that hit the colony September 8, 1867. In his despatch of September 10, the consul From Oak describes this "hurricane whose consequences have been disastrous [...] and which has caused so in the roads in the city of losses for which the figure is not yet significant. [...] Four foreign vessels were cast ashore. An American schooner sank, and a large quantity of Chinese junks. A steam frigate of the Navy Imperial, "The Warrior", a port visit in Hong Kong, was also damaged and "is obliged to go to the dock and undergoing repairs which will retain at least a month here."
These recurring risks posed by lead elements of Hong Kong colonial authorities to create, in 1883, the Royal Observatory, in charge of measuring time, the collection of meteorological and magnetic data and forecasting of tropical cyclones. A warning system is implemented and when it is fired, the firing of a cannon dedicated to this mission must warn people and vessels in the bay of an impending typhoon.
Yet, September 18, 1906, the warning system did not work. As noted by the commander of the French destroyer cons "Sabre" in calling at the harbor, "the service port has not given the usual notice about an approaching typhoon." This will cause serious flaw in the days following the disaster, a lively debate that involves the Royal Observatory and its director, severely attacked by the newspapers of the colony. Why did not he Observatory raised the alarm? Was he able to do? How to avoid this in future kind of drama? In response to these violent proceedings, the British Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, decided to establish a commission of inquiry to determine misconduct, impose sanctions and adopt preventive measures.
Indeed, the typhoon that hit Hong Kong on September 18 was of unusual violence and lack of warning has compounded the damage and casualties. The consul of France, Auguste Liebert, said in a dispatch of 3 May 1908 the extent of the disaster, he had described in his 1906 report: "Nearly 60 major European-style ships, 34 boats Steam and hundreds of barges, barges and junks were sunk, is cast ashore or damaged during the typhoon, however, that only lasted three hours but whose center passed right on the colony. The fleet of Hong Kong, comprising at least 1500 boats or sampans was cast and an estimated 7 to 8000 the number of Chinese who were drowned. " The five destroyers against the French call have also been affected and "damage had more or less serious." The "Fronde" addressed, sank and "five of the crew of this small vessel and vanished their bodies were never found . These are the losses caused to the French fleet in this harbor that led the consul of France "to intervene, as elsewhere in the private-work of the Commission of Inquiry." It states: "... and I think I have served by the evidence that I made before the Commission, the interests of navigation in this big port frequented by large numbers of warships and French commerce."
The work of the Commission of Inquiry referred to by the consul of France last several months and are being debated in the Legislative Council (Legco) the colony in May 1907. But the conclusions of the report of the Commission are not up to the expectations of the consul Liebert: "As expected, the Centre-UK-official service was officially exonerated = = (emphasis is the Consul), but it is nonetheless true that appreciation was given to the public by the retirement of its director, Mr. Doberck. Finally, what is better still, orders were given to the Hong Kong Observatory reflect a more serious than he had been doing weather telegrams sent to it by the Zi Ka Wei observatories and Manila. Among other measures, the barrel giving the alarm is deleted and replaced by a more developed and anti-typhoon shelters are built, including one in Causeway Bay.
Although the Observatory is exonerated of any wrongdoing, the instructions in the following publication of the report provide guidance on what could be criticized. It seems that the Royal Observatory did not account for weather forecasts provided by the Zi Ka Wei Observatory (near Shanghai, founded by French Jesuits in 1873) and that of Manila (founded by the English Jesuits in 1865). These two observatories in the state of the art of the period, accounted for decades of weather coverage of the China Seas and newsletters were used by all vessels sailing in these waters. But, obviously, the Hong Kong Observatory has ignored the information sent by Zi Ka Wei and Manila, where the lack of warning.
This is confirmed by the archives of the Navy. Thus, 3 November 1901, Commander Morazzani, commander of the transport ship "Nive," a stopover in Shanghai writing to the Admiral commanding the squadron in the Far East in order to share his thoughts about typhoons observed in the area, his letter also communicates the Zi Ka Wei Observatory. In his letter, the commander of the "Nive" expressed his vision of marine sailing in these waters "rule still uncertainty about the origin and path of hurricanes." The sailor, facing the danger, must rely on forecasts of "Manila Observatory, Hong Kong and Zi Ka Wei (who) makes a valuable service." But the exchange of information between these observatories is essential for ensure the best possible forecast. Citing the Father and Froc, renowned meteorologist Zi Ka Wei, "it was enough in 1898, while Manila gleaning indications of a telegram telling merely an indication of wind does not fit with the movement barometric the resort, he was able to warn the ports of the Far East, 3 days in advance of the threat of a typhoon. " The commander of the "Nive" recommends to "multiple points-ship or observatories, which collects weather information = checked =".
Father Louis Froc responds to the commander of the "Nive" in a letter dated November 5, 1901: "You say that we announced a typhoon in Hong Kong three days in advance: we announced everywhere, but not in Hong Kong is the only port that has refused to receive from us any warning whatsoever, including the director has tried to direct the same ban at the Observatory of Manila, through these approaches has, for some weeks, received defense expressly tell us so dreaded typhoons! ".
The archives of the Navy therefore confirm that this is the report of the Commission investigation: the Hong Kong Observatory, systematically refused to cooperate with other observatories in the region. This was a deliberate attitude, probably related to a certain arrogance of its director, which lasted for many years, at least eight years.
However, the drama could it be avoided? The contemporary experts who analyzed weather data from the September 18, 1906, consider that, given the means at the time, the typhoon could not be detected in time. The information on Hong Kong and the region broadcast that day by the observatories Zi Ka Wei and Manila did not also mention the risk of typhoon. And descriptions and recorded on the typhoon that hit Hong Kong show that he was an exceptional phenomenon. The typhoon did indeed lasted only two and a half hours or three hours, very short period for a typhoon, which usually lasts a day or more. The typhoon has developed suddenly, its diameter was small size and high winds were very violent. So it was a rare phenomenon, a very high intensity and short, and nobody at the time, could not foresee.
The island of Hong Kong is situated on the coast of southern China (22 ° N, 114 ° E) in the middle of an area sub-tropical climate, hit regularly between August and October by typhoons. Their violence can cause great damage and especially cause casualties. The chronicle of Hong Kong is punctuated by stories of hurricanes, typhoons and hurricanes devastated the area.
Thus, the consul of France, four years after the opening of the consulate, has already reported a hurricane that hit the colony September 8, 1867. In his despatch of September 10, the consul From Oak describes this "hurricane whose consequences have been disastrous [...] and which has caused so in the roads in the city of losses for which the figure is not yet significant. [...] Four foreign vessels were cast ashore. An American schooner sank, and a large quantity of Chinese junks. A steam frigate of the Navy Imperial, "The Warrior", a port visit in Hong Kong, was also damaged and "is obliged to go to the dock and undergoing repairs which will retain at least a month here."
These recurring risks posed by lead elements of Hong Kong colonial authorities to create, in 1883, the Royal Observatory, in charge of measuring time, the collection of meteorological and magnetic data and forecasting of tropical cyclones. A warning system is implemented and when it is fired, the firing of a cannon dedicated to this mission must warn people and vessels in the bay of an impending typhoon.
Yet, September 18, 1906, the warning system did not work. As noted by the commander of the French destroyer cons "Sabre" in calling at the harbor, "the service port has not given the usual notice about an approaching typhoon." This will cause serious flaw in the days following the disaster, a lively debate that involves the Royal Observatory and its director, severely attacked by the newspapers of the colony. Why did not he Observatory raised the alarm? Was he able to do? How to avoid this in future kind of drama? In response to these violent proceedings, the British Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, decided to establish a commission of inquiry to determine misconduct, impose sanctions and adopt preventive measures.
Indeed, the typhoon that hit Hong Kong on September 18 was of unusual violence and lack of warning has compounded the damage and casualties. The consul of France, Auguste Liebert, said in a dispatch of 3 May 1908 the extent of the disaster, he had described in his 1906 report: "Nearly 60 major European-style ships, 34 boats Steam and hundreds of barges, barges and junks were sunk, is cast ashore or damaged during the typhoon, however, that only lasted three hours but whose center passed right on the colony. The fleet of Hong Kong, comprising at least 1500 boats or sampans was cast and an estimated 7 to 8000 the number of Chinese who were drowned. " The five destroyers against the French call have also been affected and "damage had more or less serious." The "Fronde" addressed, sank and "five of the crew of this small vessel and vanished their bodies were never found . These are the losses caused to the French fleet in this harbor that led the consul of France "to intervene, as elsewhere in the private-work of the Commission of Inquiry." It states: "... and I think I have served by the evidence that I made before the Commission, the interests of navigation in this big port frequented by large numbers of warships and French commerce."
The work of the Commission of Inquiry referred to by the consul of France last several months and are being debated in the Legislative Council (Legco) the colony in May 1907. But the conclusions of the report of the Commission are not up to the expectations of the consul Liebert: "As expected, the Centre-UK-official service was officially exonerated = = (emphasis is the Consul), but it is nonetheless true that appreciation was given to the public by the retirement of its director, Mr. Doberck. Finally, what is better still, orders were given to the Hong Kong Observatory reflect a more serious than he had been doing weather telegrams sent to it by the Zi Ka Wei observatories and Manila. Among other measures, the barrel giving the alarm is deleted and replaced by a more developed and anti-typhoon shelters are built, including one in Causeway Bay. Although the Observatory is exonerated of any wrongdoing, the instructions in the following publication of the report provide guidance on what could be criticized. It seems that the Royal Observatory did not account for weather forecasts provided by the Zi Ka Wei Observatory (near Shanghai, founded by French Jesuits in 1873) and that of Manila (founded by the English Jesuits in 1865). These two observatories in the state of the art of the period, accounted for decades of weather coverage of the China Seas and newsletters were used by all vessels sailing in these waters. But, obviously, the Hong Kong Observatory has ignored the information sent by Zi Ka Wei and Manila, where the lack of warning.
This is confirmed by the archives of the Navy. Thus, 3 November 1901, Commander Morazzani, commander of the transport ship "Nive," a stopover in Shanghai writing to the Admiral commanding the squadron in the Far East in order to share his thoughts about typhoons observed in the area, his letter also communicates the Zi Ka Wei Observatory. In his letter, the commander of the "Nive" expressed his vision of marine sailing in these waters "rule still uncertainty about the origin and path of hurricanes." The sailor, facing the danger, must rely on forecasts of "Manila Observatory, Hong Kong and Zi Ka Wei (who) makes a valuable service." But the exchange of information between these observatories is essential for ensure the best possible forecast. Citing the Father and Froc, renowned meteorologist Zi Ka Wei, "it was enough in 1898, while Manila gleaning indications of a telegram telling merely an indication of wind does not fit with the movement barometric the resort, he was able to warn the ports of the Far East, 3 days in advance of the threat of a typhoon. " The commander of the "Nive" recommends to "multiple points-ship or observatories, which collects weather information = checked =".
Father Louis Froc responds to the commander of the "Nive" in a letter dated November 5, 1901: "You say that we announced a typhoon in Hong Kong three days in advance: we announced everywhere, but not in Hong Kong is the only port that has refused to receive from us any warning whatsoever, including the director has tried to direct the same ban at the Observatory of Manila, through these approaches has, for some weeks, received defense expressly tell us so dreaded typhoons! ".
The archives of the Navy therefore confirm that this is the report of the Commission investigation: the Hong Kong Observatory, systematically refused to cooperate with other observatories in the region. This was a deliberate attitude, probably related to a certain arrogance of its director, which lasted for many years, at least eight years.
However, the drama could it be avoided? The contemporary experts who analyzed weather data from the September 18, 1906, consider that, given the means at the time, the typhoon could not be detected in time. The information on Hong Kong and the region broadcast that day by the observatories Zi Ka Wei and Manila did not also mention the risk of typhoon. And descriptions and recorded on the typhoon that hit Hong Kong show that he was an exceptional phenomenon. The typhoon did indeed lasted only two and a half hours or three hours, very short period for a typhoon, which usually lasts a day or more. The typhoon has developed suddenly, its diameter was small size and high winds were very violent. So it was a rare phenomenon, a very high intensity and short, and nobody at the time, could not foresee.
CR.
Sources: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nantes, historical records of the Service of Defense, Navy Section, Toulon, La Revue Maritime, September 1951. Photo credit: HKMM.
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