HONG KONG, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A trial version of Hong Kong Observatory's Nowcasting System, which will support the specialized weather forecasting service for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will be shipped to Beijing this summer for a preliminary demonstration, a government press release said Thursday.

    To support the Olympic equestrian event in Hong Kong, the observatory has also developed a system to monitor a horse's heat stress, and will collect the necessary climatological data starting this summer.

    "The Olympics is an important event for our country," Chief Executive Donald Tsang said. "I am glad the observatory will use advanced technologies to serve the country and Hong Kong."

    While visiting the observatory's Central Forecasting Office, Tsang was briefed on its work, particularly its pivotal role of research and development in the provision of weather services, and watched a replay of the sequence of weather events during the approach of Typhoon Chanchu last month.

    "It is important to predict accurately the movement of a tropical cyclone so that workers and students can plan their transport arrangements as early as possible," he said.

    He then visited the observatory's television studio to see how a single professional meteorologist produced an entire weather program. He said television weather programs brought observatory colleagues closer to the public.

    "It is the main channel of weather information for senior citizens. I appreciate the observatory's efforts to meet the needs of the community," he said. Enditem