Always mindful of the specific needs of the public and serving them with passion, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has developed brand new and personalised services through innovative use of technology. Page views on HKO’s website, including views on the “MyObservatory” mobile application, exceeded 100 billion in 2016. Such an outstanding achievement is a recognition of the highly popular services provided by HKO.

TAILORED SERVICES CATERING FOR DIFFERENT USERS

With a wide range of weather-related needs from across the community, HKO launched a variety of special services. For example, the “Weather Information for Outdoor Photography” webpage was designed as a one-stop portal to provide information on the latest weather conditions to dedicated photographers and let them plan their activities. The “Hong Kong Weather Information for Tourists” website has the latest weather information and detailed weather forecasts for various tourist attractions in Hong Kong. It is a useful travel planning tool which is very much appreciated by the tourism sector.

Considering the large variations in rainfall at different locations in Hong Kong, HKO launched the “Announcement on Localised Heavy Rain”, which allows people in affected areas to take precautions. The “MyObservatory” mobile application has also been extended to wearable devices such as smart watches.

STAY TUNED AND RESPOND TO HOT TOPICS IN TOWN

Information can be rapidly distributed online. Weather-related news, articles or rumours can easily go viral and spread across the whole community almost instantly. It is therefore no longer possible to rely on conventional ways of communication to keep pace with fast-changing events. Through the online “Weather Note”, HKO explains weather-related hot topics and conveys correct weather information in an easily understandable and light-hearted way. To ensure a timely response, the internal clearance process within the department for issuing these messages has also been streamlined.

HKO aims to establish a culture of learning, innovation and service among its staff through various initiatives. A “Staff Suggestion Scheme” and a “Letter of Commendation by the Director” were introduced to encourage staff to proactively propose ideas for service improvements. To enhance communication among colleagues, sharing platforms such as “Virtual Forum” on the intranet, a Yammer network as well as a WhatsApp group called “Public Communication Strategy” were created. Externally, HKO makes use of different channels to receive feedback. For instance, it organises consultation meetings with different groups of stakeholders to understand their needs and to gauge the usefulness of its services. It also invited experts and professionals from different sectors to form an “HKO Strategic Advisory Committee” to comprehensively review HKO's services from different perspectives. Opinions are also effectively gathered from “Friends of the Observatory”, which has more than 10,000 members.

By analysing feedback from all relevant stakeholders, keeping abreast of the latest technologies and setting out long-term development strategies and targets, HKO is committed to continuous innovation and improvement of its services.