Public Perception of the Accuracy of Weather Forecasts in Hong Kong

Spring Survey 2008

The Hong Kong Observatory commissions an independent consultant to conduct two public opinion surveys every year to find out the public perception of the accuracy of weather forecasts issued by the Observatory, and the level of public satisfaction with the overall service provided by the Observatory. The results of the survey conducted in April 2008 indicated that on the average, the public considered 74.7% of the weather forecasts issued by the Observatory were accurate, and gave a score of 7.5 (out of 10) to its overall service.

The first such public opinion survey began in 1989. Between 1989 and 1991,surveys were conducted four times a year in January, April, July and October. From 1992 onwards, they were conducted twice a year in April and October. The surveys on the level of satisfaction of the overall services provided by the Observatory began in 1999. They were also conducted twice a year, in April and October.

The public opinion surveys are carried out by an independent marketing company commissioned by the Hong Kong Observatory. To ensure that the survey results are representative, some 1,000 members of the Hong Kong community between the ages of 15 and 64 are interviewed by telephone in each survey.