Hong Kong Observatory's Nowcasting System will support the specialized weather forecasting service for the Olympics and a trial version will be shipped to Beijing this summer for a preliminary demonstration, according to a government press release on Thursday.

Visiting the observatory on Thursday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang lauded the Hong Kong Observatory for enhancing its weather forecast accuracy and said he was glad Hong Kong will use advanced technology to support the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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," Tsang said. "I am glad the observatory will use advanced technologies to serve the country and Hong Kong."

While visiting the Central Forecasting Office, Tsang 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."

Tsang 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.