A wet and unseasonably hot September
Mainly attributing to weaker than normal northeast monsoon over southern China, September 2024 was much hotter than usual in Hong Kong. The mean temperature of 29.2 degrees, mean maximum temperature of 32.0 degrees and mean minimum temperature of 26.8 degrees were 1.3 degrees, 1.5 degrees and 0.7 degrees above the respective normals and were respectively the third, one of the fourth and one of the seventh highest for September on record. With stronger than normal troughing flow in the lower atmosphere over the coast of southern China and the northern part of the South China Sea, the month was also cloudier and wetter than usual. The mean amount of cloud in the month was 74 per cent, 8 per cent above the normal of 66 per cent and one of the ninth highest on record for September. The monthly total rainfall was 520.9 millimetres, about 62 per cent above the normal figure of 321.4 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall this year up to September was 2104.3 millimetres, about 6 per cent lower than the normal figure of 2242.8 millimetres for the same period.
Under the influence of an anticyclone aloft, the weather of Hong Kong was very hot with sunny periods during the day on the first four days of the month. High temperatures also triggered thundery showers over the territory from September 2 to 4. The showers were particularly heavy on September 3 and more than 30 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places of Hong Kong.
After a quiet period of tropical cyclone activities over the South China Sea in August, an area of low pressure over the seas east of the Philippines intensified into a tropical depression on September 1 and was named Yagi. Yagi moved across Luzon the next day and entered the northern part of the South China Sea on September 3. Moving generally westward across the northern part of the South China Sea, Yagi rapidly intensified from a severe tropical storm to a super typhoon in just 24 hours. Yagi attained its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 230 kilometres per hour near its centre on September 6, making it the second strongest tropical cyclone in the South China Sea since the Observatory's records began in 1950. After moving across Hainan Island and Beibu Wan, Yagi made landfall over the northern part of Vietnam later on September 7 and progressively weakened into an area of low pressure over the inland areas on September 8.
In Hong Kong, it was still very hot with sunny intervals during the day on September 5. With the approach of Yagi, the weather of Hong Kong deteriorated later on that day and the Observatory issued the first No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal in the year. Strong to gale force winds generally affected the territory with occasional storm force winds on high ground later on September 5 and at first on September 6. With Yagi departing from Hong Kong, local winds moderated later on September 6. The outer rainbands of Yagi brought heavy showers, violent gusts and thunderstorms to Hong Kong on the night of September 5 and the next two days. Violent gusts of around 139 kilometres per hour were once recorded at Central Pier on the night of September 5. More than 100 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over most parts of Hong Kong from September 5 to 7 and rainfall even exceeded 200 millimetres over the northeastern part of the New Territories.
Under the influence of an upper-air disturbance, it was mainly cloudy with occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms on September 8 and 9. The showers were particularly heavy over parts of Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin and Eastern Districts with more than 80 millimetres of rainfall recorded on these two days. Under light wind conditions, apart from isolated showers and thunderstorms, the weather was generally fine and very hot from September 10 to 13 and the morning of September 14. Thundery showers associated with upper-air disturbances affected the territory on the afternoon of September 14 and more than 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over Kowloon. Affected by an upper-air disturbance, the weather was a mixture of sunny periods and showers on September 15 and 16.
The weather was generally fine and very hot during the day from September 17 to 19. With plenty of sunshine, it was extremely hot on September 17, with temperatures at the Observatory rising to a maximum of 35.7 degrees, the highest of the month and also the hottest Mid-Autumn Festival on record. However, thundery showers triggered by high temperatures developed over the coast of eastern Guangdong and moved towards Hong Kong at night, bringing around 30 millimetres of rainfall to many places of the territory.
A broad trough of low pressure lingered over the northern part of the South China Sea and the coast of Guangdong from September 20 to 24, causing local weather to turn cloudy with occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms. The showers were particularly heavy during the day on September 21 when an area of low pressure over the trough moved across Hong Kong, necessitating the issuance of the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal. More than 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places of the territory and rainfall even exceeded 70 millimetres over Hong Kong Island on that day. The weather remained unsettled in the next few days. More than 100 millimetres of rainfall were generally recorded over the territory and rainfall even exceeded 250 millimetres over most parts of Hong Kong Island from September 20 to 24. Furthermore, a northeast monsoon reached the coast of southern China on September 22 and brought slightly cooler weather to Hong Kong on September 22 and 23. Under the rain and affected by the northeast monsoon, the temperatures at the Observatory dropped to a minimum of 23.4 degrees on the morning of September 23, the lowest of the month.
With the weakening of the trough of low pressure, the showers eased off with sunny periods during the day on September 25. An anticyclone aloft brought generally fine weather on September 26 and 27. Affected by an upper-air disturbance, the weather turned cloudier with more showers on September 28 with severe squally thunderstorms in the afternoon. Waterspout was also reported over the sea area off Hung Hom, the first occurrence in Victoria Harbour according to reports received by the Observatory since 1959. Under the influence of the outer subsiding air of Super Typhoon Krathon, apart from isolated showers, it was generally fine in Hong Kong on the last two days of the month.
Eleven tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in September 2024.
Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for September are tabulated in Table 2.
HKSAR Government strongly condemns Washington Post editorial on Subsidiary Legislation safeguarding national security
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (June 13) strongly condemns the wanton slander and groundless allegations made by The Washington Post in its article entitled "Hong Kong's nightmare gets darker", criticising the Safeguarding National Security (Procedural Matters) Regulation (Procedural Matters Regulation). The article clearly exposes The Washington Post's irrational anti-China stance and double standards, falling well short of what is expected of professional journalism.
A spokesperson for the HKSAR Government stated, "In accordance with international law based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right, as well as an international practice, to enact laws safeguarding national security. With at least 21 pieces of legislation in the United States (US) safeguarding national security, anti-China media, in particular The Washington Post, shamelessly display its hypocrisy and double standards by pointing fingers at the HKSAR as we continuously improve our legal system to fulfill a constitutional duty to safeguard national security."
In response to the article's baseless allegations, the spokesperson points out that, "The Procedural Matters Regulation only aims to state clearly the classification mechanism under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) for 'other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR', thereby bringing even greater certainty to the implementation of the relevant provisions under the HKNSL, the SNSO and other laws.
"Any reasonable and objective person who has studied the three provisions of the Procedural Matters Regulation with care, and observed the relevant discussions at the Legislative Council (LegCo) meetings would have no difficulty in finding that the Procedural Matters Regulation has no retrospective effect at all. It does not create any new offence or alter the penalties of any offence. It certainly does not turn any lawful conduct into an offence. It is not applicable to legal proceedings that are concluded. Yet, The Washington Post falsely and maliciously claimed that 'people can now be charged retroactively for crimes that didn't exist when they allegedly committed them'. Its ignorance of facts and betrayal of the basic tenets of responsible journalism are shocking, irresponsible, and totally unacceptable behaviour for any media organisation.
"More important, the Procedural Matters Regulation will in no way infringe any legitimate right of a defendant. Hong Kong is a place underpinned by the rule of law. The guilt or innocence of a defendant remains a matter to be adjudicated by the court independently and in accordance with law. The court will, as always, ensure a defendant's right to a fair trial. Article 4 of the HKNSL stipulates that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms, which the residents of the HKSAR enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. Article 5 stipulates that the principle of the rule of law shall be adhered to in preventing, suppressing, and imposing punishment for offences endangering national security, which includes protection for the right to defend oneself and other rights in judicial proceedings that a criminal suspect and defendant are entitled to under the law. Section 2 of the SNSO also clearly stipulates that the Ordinance is based on the above principle of respect and protection for human rights and the principle of the rule of law."
The spokesperson pointed out, "Another allegation by The Washington Post about the issuance of a certificate by the Chief Executive under Article 47 of the HKNSL or section 115 of the SNSO is plainly wrong. The issuance of the certificate by the Chief Executive is a rigorous and solemn action. As the top official with primary responsibility for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, the Chief Executive has access to all relevant information, including extremely sensitive intelligence and information on acts and activities endangering national security, which are not suitable for public disclosure. Such confidential information may even pertain to threats by state actors. It follows that the Chief Executive must shoulder the important responsibility, and indeed is in the best position, to make the necessary assessments and exercise the power to issue certificates on whether a criminal act involves national security. It must be firmly stated that this is a very rigorous and cautious process, leaving absolutely no room for uncertainty.
"As a matter of fact, it is a well-established principle at common law, upheld by the highest courts of common law jurisdictions including Hong Kong, the US and the United Kingdom, that the courts accord deference to the assessments and judgments of the executive authorities on national security. Constitutionally, the executive authorities have the responsibility for assessing and addressing risks to national security, whereas the court is tasked to administer justice and adjudicate disputes independently. For institutional reasons, the executive has the requisite experience, expertise, resources and access to information and intelligence, which make it best suited to making evaluative judgments on those matters. Notably, a judgment of the Supreme Court of the US in 2010 (which has been applied in many subsequent Supreme Court judgments) explained why the judiciary must defer to the executive authorities' assessment of national security issues, stating that 'national security and foreign policy concerns arise in connection with efforts to confront evolving threats in an area where information can be difficult to obtain and the impact of certain conduct difficult to assess', and 'the lack of competence on the part of the courts is marked'. Turning a blind eye to the above simply demonstrates The Washington Post's double standards and ignorance."
The spokesperson also stressed that the legislative process on the Procedural Matters Regulation is entirely in compliance with all legal and procedural requirements. "The Procedural Matters Regulation is a piece of subsidiary legislation made under section 110 of the SNSO. It is subject to scrutiny by the LegCo under the negative vetting procedure, as in the case of many other pieces of legislation that are currently in force in Hong Kong. In accordance with section 34 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1), the LegCo may pass resolution to amend the subsidiary legislation in any manner consistent with the power to make such subsidiary legislation. As a matter of fact, the LegCo convened a subcommittee on June 11 to study the Procedural Matters Regulation. Members of the subcommittee asked Government officials numerous questions concerning the policy, legal and drafting aspects of the Procedural Matters Regulation, and were satisfied that it is in order in all respects."
Regarding The Washington Post's baseless claim that Hong Kong is ow "a less secure place to visit or do business", the spokesperson said, "It is most appalling that The Washington Post has to resort to dirty tricks and tell bold-faced lies to smear the HKSAR. In fact, a simple online "fact-check" will reveal this is completely at odds with how investors and businesses around the world perceive the HKSAR: Hong Kong has been heralded the world's freest economy for decades; in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, Hong Kong's ranking improved by two places to third globally; Hong Kong continues to rank among the top three international financial centres, and is number one in the world in terms of initial public offering (IPO) fundraising in the first quarter of 2026, as well as the largest cross-boundary wealth management centre.
"Foreign businesses have no reason to worry about the laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. In fact, many entrepreneurs welcome such laws, which ensure a safer and more stable environment for investments and economic development. The findings of a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong earlier this year, showed increased confidence in Hong Kong's business environment for 2026; 94 per cent of the respondents expressed confidence in Hong Kong's rule of law, a marked increase from 83 per cent in 2025. It is time for The Washington Post to face facts and respect the truth, including honest opinions expressed by their fellow countrymen who invest their money and do business in and with Hong Kong.
"The HKSAR Government will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the HKNSL, the SNSO and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law, while upholding the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of 'one country, two systems'."
Source: AI-found images
