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period. The main building was rectangular, 83 feet by 45feet, with the two storeys constructed of plastered brickwork.The first floor was the director's residence. On theground floor were his office and library and the clock room.On the left of the entrance hall were the instruments roomand the computers' room. (Computers were members of thenon-professional technical staff.)Doberck's first major project was a tour of the Treatyports* - on the orders of Governor Hennessy - to seekscientific assistance and cooperation. The tour was obviouslya success, with Doberck reporting:The Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs ofChina [Sir Robert Hart] who has contributed so much toforward the cause of science in that country } subsequently ordereda copy of all meteorological observations henceforth made in theharbours and lighthouses along the coast to be forwarded to me.. .It is certain that not only the meteorology of China will benefit bySir Robert Hart's enlightened action, but the meteorology of thenorthern hemisphere will be forwarded, when reliable observationsare made on a uniform plan in that extensive country.Returning to Hong Kong in late 1883, Doberck found theobservatory nearly completed. He moved into the buildingand, as previously described, began observations on 1January 1884. At first, observations were made at 10 am, 4pm and 10 pm of pressure, temperature, wind velocity anddirection, cloud type, amount and direction of motion,rainfall and sunshine duration. A hut west of the observatorywas used for magnetic observations of horizontal andvertical force and declination. The frequency of observationswas later increased with the addition of readings at 1pm. Observations were also made at Victoria Peak (7 am, 10am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm, of which the 10 am, 4 pmand 10 pm readings were published). Readings from CapeD'Aguilar were found to be 'so wanting in accuracy' that allexcept the state of sea surface were stopped.* Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo and Shanghai.23