Global initiative: Nine meteorologists from around the world attend a training course on the automatic weather station network.

Nine meteorologists from around the world are attending a training course on the automatic weather station network organised by the Hong Kong Observatory.

The nine - from Colombia, Costa Rica, Guinea-Bissau, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda - will be in Hong Kong until November 30.

The course promotes the establishment or enhancement of automated weather station network in other countries. This is the 10th time that the observatory has organised such a professional training course for the World Meteorological Organisation.

Jose Luis Araya Lopez, a meteorologist from Costa Rica, said the Hong Kong Observatory has extensive experience in the use of automatic weather observing systems. The knowledge he acquires will be useful in developing automatic weather observing systems in his country.

Afizal Haqeem Shapee from Malaysia was impressed by the observatory's application of technology.

Director of the Hong Kong Observatory Lam Chiu-ying said the observatory is glad to share its experience with meteorological services all over the world.