‘Dim-sum,’ ‘Milktea’ among names to be voted as new callsigns for tropical cyclones

Forty names have been shortlisted by the Hong Kong Observatory in a tropical cyclone name collection drive, with the names having Hong Kong characteristics such as “Dim-sum” and “Milktea” to be voted in making the final twenty.

The Observatory previously collected suggestions from the public in a name collection drive, and forty names were shortlisted after consolidation and initial assessment.

The activity now proceeds to the second stage and members of the public can vote online to select 20 suitable tropical cyclone names with Hong Kong characteristics from the shortlisted names.

Among them are names of unique Hong Kong food and traditions,  including "Milktea," "Dim-sum," “Heung-pin (jasmine tea),” "Lantern", and "Sing-si (lion dance)." There are also names of local icons such as "Siu-lung (stage name of superstar Bruce Lee)," "An An," and "Jia Jia." Additionally, there are names of several landmarks and flowers, such as "Tsing Ma" (Tsing Ma Bridge), "Sha Yin" (a bridge in Sha Tin), and "Hibiscus."

The voting stage starts today and will end on January 7, 2024, with the results expected to be announced within the month. Click here for the designated page for voting.

Participants of the vote may have a chance to receive an HKO souvenir.

The Typhoon Committee under the World Meteorological Organization has adopted a list of tropical cyclone names with local characteristics nominated by its 14 members to designate tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea since 2000. The list includes 10 names provided by Hong Kong, China.

When the Typhoon Committee requests that a tropical cyclone name be retired due to serious casualties and economic losses, the member who provided that name will submit proposed replacement names to the committee for consideration.