Chief of Hong Kong Observatory Lam Chiu-ying
Lam Chiu-ying is the guy who does the hoisting. As the chief of the Hong Kong Observatory, Lam is not only the man responsible for initiating the citywide shutdown during a typhoon, but he has also made a reputation for himself in the media thanks to his frank and unorthodox opinions on life.
I was determined to work for the Observatory since I was in Form 2, when I was given a “Starman” badge in the Boy Scouts. A lot of people can’t fulfill their childhood dreams. I did. I’m lucky.
It’s great fun to monitor the weather. It’s full of variables, so I have different things to do every day.
Weather is like life. There are principles, but there is no absolute certainty.
Last year, I fell from a horse and suffered a brain hemorrhage.
I used to think my job was easy and I wasn’t particularly smart. But after the accident, I realized I was smart—because I am a lot slower now.
I don’t really feel much pressure when we get criticized for our decisions. My team feels the stress much more than I do. When we were criticized for not hoisting signal No. 8 for Typhoon Papillon in 2006, I still ate and slept well.
I’m the most talkative head of the Observatory in history. I won’t hide when bad things happen. Hong Kong people pay my salary.
