Hong Kong Observatory Director CY Lam has been elected the Vice-President of World Meteorological Organisation 's Regional Association II (Asia).

He said he would apply the observatory's strengths to foster co-operation among the group's members. In particular, he hopes to enhance meteorological services developing countries deliver.

The Observatory's forecasts ultimately stand to benefit from having better global meteorological observations and the free flow of meteorological information worldwide, he added.

The Asian regional WMO has more than 30 members. Its principal functions are to co-ordinate the implementation of meteorological services internationally and strengthen them in Asia.

Mr Lam's election is testimony to the recognition accorded to the work of the Observatory by WMO members in Asia. It is also the result the department's many years of hard work and contributions to international meteorological co-operation.

The Observatory's accomplishments include the design and operation of two websites on behalf of the WMO - World Weather Information Service and Severe Weather Information Centre.

These websites collate official meteorological information from around the world and have won acclaim from the WMO and the international meteorological community.

In recent years, the Observatory has been providing training courses to WMO members. It has also sent lecturers to international scientific workshops where they were well received.