Three new tropical cyclone names have been added to this year's list of typhoon names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea, the Hong Kong Observatory announced today.

They are Bori, Saobien and Tianma.

Bori, from the Republic of Korea, represents barley.

Saobien, from Vietnam, is an echinoderm invertebrate, typically star-shaped.

Tianma, from China, represents a flying horse in Chinese legend.

The United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee endorsed the names at the committee's 57th session. They will replace the names of Doksuri, Saola and Haikui.

The committee will consider retiring names of tropical cyclones which have caused serious casualties and economic losses.