Early China Coast Meteorology: The Role of Hong Kong

Foreword

FOREWORD When I joined the then Royal Observatory in 1974, I was given a little book on the history of the Observatory. It led me to believe that the Observatory had its beginning in a recommendation of the Royal Society and that its initial mission was scientific in nature, comprising astronomical (for time keeping), meteorological and geomagnetic observations. It was quite convincing since my job title was ‘Scientific Officer’. But I quickly realized that my job had much to do with the welfare of Hong Kong and its people, and that I could not pretend that I did only scientific work. The Observatory had to respond to requirements of the community and very often to their criticisms. I began to question whether it was right to see the Observatory purely as a scientific institution. In my reading through the years, I repeatedly ran into references to the 1874 typhoon and could not help wondering whether it was the real cause which led to the establishment of the Observatory. Professor MacKeown’s book covers the first thirty years of the Observatory. It enables me to see the Observatory emerging in a situation full of tension and conflicts. Local practical demands for protection from typhoons were set against the scientific expectations of a distant land. Events unfolding separately in Hong Kong and London had to be brought together as if the same purpose was being served. Intricate conflicts were apparent among the various colourful personalities involved in the setting up of the Observatory, in the UK and in the then colony. Indeed, that sense of tension has continued all the way to the present day. The Hong Kong Observatory is still searching for the impossible harmony as real-life demands keep on growing beyond the capability of rigorous science. Professor MacKeown very successfully portrays the circumstances into which Dr. Doberck, the first director, was thrown. The way Dr. Doberck behaved (or misbehaved) during his long stay in Hong Kong can be seen in context. Dr. Doberck’s perception of the Jesuit Fathers and the unfortunate MacKeown_00_fm_rev.indd 11 02/12/2010 11:55 AM xii Foreword repercussions are ably discussed, prompting us to ponder whether the Hong Kong Observatory might have played a much more prominent role in the development of meteorology in China or even East Asia had a different man been at the helm in its formative years. The arrow of time points only one way; it is impossible to go back. But lessons should be learnt for future benefit. To be useful to the world, the Observatory must reach out to and cooperate with partners and stakeholders, locally and internationally. This is what it has been doing in recent decades. Professor MacKeown taught me physics at the University of Hong Kong. In this book, he teaches me history and what one should do to run a scientific organization to serve people well. I am very privileged to be his student. In going through this volume, it is obvious that an enormous amount of energy has gone into the collation and analysis of vast amounts of information, which leads to the fine story now in front of us. The Hong Kong community, particularly colleagues at the Observatory, owes Professor MacKeown a big round of applause for the great effort he has expended to enable us to appreciate an often overlooked but nevertheless important aspect of the history of Hong Kong. I congratulate him on a job well done. Lam Chiu Ying, C Met, HonMemRMetS, HonFCIWEM, SBS Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (2003–2009) MacKeown_00_fm_rev.indd 12 02/12/2010 11:55 AM ...