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Jiang Chuqin

Environmental authorities are seeking HK$55 million (US$7 million) in funding to set up three more radar systems aimed at enhancing Hong Kong’s ability to monitor and provide warnings about severe weather.
The existing Phased Array Weather Radar, or PAWR, had proven efficient in monitoring rapidly changing inclement conditions but it could not cover the entire city, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
“We want to enhance our capacity to monitor and give advance warning on inclement or high-impact weather,” environment chief Tse Chin-wan told a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday.
“So we propose to implement a territory-wide Phased Array Weather Radar system.”
Tse said it could also help to improve meteorological data exchanges in the Greater Bay Area and boost the low-altitude economy by providing more timely weather information.
The existing PAWR at Sha Lo Wan on Lantau Island had a maximum range of around 60km, leaving some blind spots in densely populated areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
The three locations under consideration for new radars are Tung Lung Chau, Lau Fau Shan and Cheung Chau. Testing and commissioning are planned for June 2027.
The cost for setting up three more systems is HK$55 million, with annual maximum recurrent spending of HK$900,000 in the first five years and HK$1.1 million after five years. The lifespan of the radar is estimated to be around 15 years.
If approved, the Observatory, which is under the Environment and Ecology Bureau, will examine the latest developments in PAWR technology from recent years and review various suppliers.
“This adjusted network has a much higher resolution and a higher frequency,” said Chan Sai-tick, the Observatory’s assistant director for aviation weather services.
“We can more easily see the involvement of thunderstorms and torrential rain. We can also enhance the frequency so members of the public will know what kind of weather is forming in the area.”
Chan said that compared with weather radars at Tai Mo Shan and Tate’s Cairn, PAWR took one-sixth of the time and offered five times the resolution to complete a volume scan of the atmosphere.
The new system could also effectively capture rapidly changing inclement weather events such as tornadoes, hail, intense thunderstorms and associated severe gusts.


A waterspout in Victoria Harbour last month and hail that affected Yuen Long and North districts in April last year were both detected by the Sha Lo Wan radar.
Most lawmakers supported the plan but expressed concern about national security regarding the purchase of overseas equipment, as well as the potential impact on residents and projects in the surrounding areas.
In response, the environmental authorities said they “will fully consult experts” over national security risks and ensure the equipment met current safety standards.
More than 40 sets of the same system have been installed in neighbouring Guangdong province, which is 160 times larger than Hong Kong. The format for data from the existing system in Hong Kong is the same as that in Guangdong, ensuring easy collaboration between the two regions.
In April, after tornadoes and hail hit Guangdong, an assessment found the PAWR could help the government issue a warning 40 minutes earlier.


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Existing system has a maximum range of about 60km, leaving some blind spots in densely populated areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island


Existing system has a maximum range of about 60km, leaving some blind spots in densely populated areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
