The Hong Kong Observatory opened its Po Shan Seismograph Station today, which is equipped with a broadband seismometer and a strong motion accelerometer.

The seismometer detects earthquakes thousands of kilometres away and the waveform data is disseminated real-time. It enables earthquake and tsunami monitoring centres worldwide to determine the parameters of earthquakes in the vicinity of South China Sea.

The seismic data processing system can collect data recorded by seismometers around the world to compute earthquake origin time, epicentre location, focal depth and magnitude. It can also estimate the arrival time and height of tsunamis.

The station's accelerometer helps evaluate seismic risks in Hong Kong.