Director of HKO elected co-Vice-President of WMO Technical Commission

19 April 2024

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), Dr Chan Pak-wai, was elected with a high vote as a co-Vice-President of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at the third session of INFCOM held in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday (April 18, Geneva time). He is the first Asian to take up a leadership position in the INFCOM.

As one of the two technical commissions under the WMO, the INFCOM contributes to the development and implementation of globally coordinated Earth system observations, data and prediction systems. The INFCOM also makes recommendations to the Executive Council and the World Meteorological Congress, the highest decision-making body of WMO, on international standards for methods, procedures, techniques and practices in meteorology and operational hydrology to be included in the Technical Regulations, Guides and Manuals.

Dr Chan said, "It is my great honour to serve as a co-Vice-President of the INFCOM and contribute to the international meteorological community. I am grateful to the Central People’s Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for their support to my work at the INFCOM. I also wish to thank Members in the Commission for giving me the chance to take up this important role as well as their trust and partnership. Moving forward, I will devote my best efforts and join hands with experts in the Commission to achieve a common goal to protect lives and properties through science and innovation."

The WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations for weather, climate, water and related environmental matters. At present, the WMO has 187 Member states and six Member territories, including Hong Kong, China.

Over the years, the HKO plays a significant role in various WMO activities and is highly recognised by WMO Members and the Secretariat. HKO officers have been serving different roles in various technical commissions, standing committees, study groups and expert teams of the WMO. Dr Chan is currently the Permanent Representative of Hong Kong, China with WMO and he had been a co-Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Measurements, Instrumentation and Traceability of the INFCOM to promote the standardisation of meteorological and related observations.

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Dr Chan Pak-wai, was elected as a co-Vice-President of the Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at the third Session of INFCOM held in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday (April 18, Geneva time). Dr Pak-wai Chan (first from right) is pictured with the elected President, Mr Michel Jean (second from right), Secretary-General of the WMO, Professor Celeste Saulo (middle), and the other two elected co-Vice-Presidents, Dr Pascal Waniha (second from left) and Dr Jan Danhelka (first from left).