Chief Executive John Lee met World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Prof Celeste Saulo today.

Mr Lee congratulated Prof Saulo on her assumption of office as the first female Secretary-General of the WMO in January.

He also welcomed her visit to Hong Kong, noting that she will attend a signing ceremony for an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the WMO.

Mr Lee said that with the intensifying change in global climate, extreme weather conditions have become more frequent and there are practical needs to strengthen early-warning capabilities around the world to more effectively protect people's lives and property.

Noting that the HKO and the WMO first signed an MOU in 2018 in supporting global weather information services, Mr Lee said the signing of the updated MOU will further enhance bilateral co-operation and contribute to the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative of the United Nations.

The Chief Executive said the Government is maintaining close professional exchanges with the WMO to broaden the international horizons of HKO officers and enrich their professional development.

The HKO will continue to support the WMO's initiatives, including its Voluntary Cooperation Programme, whereby the department will set up the Meteorological Training Centre for Belt & Road Countries this year to provide training for meteorological personnel from the Belt-Road regions, and foster regional and international co-operation on meteorology, Mr Lee added.