DISCLAIMER

Regulation 42

Recommendations of working groups shall have no status within the Organization until they have been approved by the responsible constituent body. In the case of joint working groups the recommendations must be concurred with by the presidents of the constituent bodies concerned before being submitted to the designated constituent body.

Regulation 43

In the case of a recommendation made by a working group between sessions of the responsible constituent body, either in a session of a working group or by correspondence, the president of the body may, as an exceptional measure, approve the recommendation on behalf of the constituent body when the matter is, in his opinion, urgent, and does not appear to imply new obligations for Members. He may then submit this recommendation for adoption by the Executive Council or to the President of the Organization for action in accordance with Regulation 9(5).

CONTENTS

AGENDA

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING (agenda item 1)

1.1 Opening remarks

1.2 Adoption of the agenda

2. REVIEW OF THE DRAFT GUIDE ON INTERNET PRACTICES (agenda item 2)

3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION (agenda item 3)

The experts considered the best format for the publication or dissemination of the guide (solid-bound, loose-leaf updateable, on-line, etc.) and agreed that since the Guide concerns use of the Internet its primary mode of dissemination should be via the Internet. This would allow direct reference to the vast quantity of additional material that is available via on-line sources. The experts discussed the relative advantages and disadvantages of printed versus on-line dissemination of the Guide and recommended that the on-line version be definitive. However, they agreed that all of the information in the Guide concerning the merits and procedures of establishing a connection to the Internet should be printed and disseminated via hard-copy to all NMHSs that are not yet connected. Furthermore, printed copies should also be made available upon request.

The experts also agreed that, although liberal use should be made of hyperlinks to additional material, critical information should be included within the Guide and not just via hyperlinks to sources outside of WMO control.

4. PROCEDURES TO UPDATE TO GUIDE (agenda item 4)

The meeting considered the rapid technological evolution of the Internet and its possible impact on the Guide. Since the Guide will deal with technical and procedural issues that might be strongly influenced by changing technology, the experts recommended that a serious effort be made to keep the Guide up to date. It was suggested that the Secretariat frequently review the hyperlinks within the Guide to ensure they are still valid. Furthermore, the experts suggested that CBS consider establishing a rapporteur on the Guide, who would be responsible for coordinating updates and additions to the Guide over the next few years. The Guide itself should include up to date information on how to propose additions or corrections.

5. ANY OTHER ISSUES (agenda item 5)

Mr Wai briefed the meeting on a web project initiated by the PWS ET on Product Development and Verification and Service Evaluation. The project will be implemented in a phased manner to provide ready access to warnings and forecasts issued by the NMHSs over the Internet. As the pilot phase, a site will be developed by Hong Kong, China to provide centralised access to tropical cyclone warnings issued by NMHSs in the Typhoon Committee region which participate in the project. The team noted the project with interest and saw few technical difficulties in the implementation of the site. It was however envisaged that substantial work would be needed to set up the arrangements with the NMHSs in the exchange of the Tropical Cyclone warning information.

6. CLOSURE OF THE MEETING (agenda item 6)

The meeting closed on Friday 18 February.