Long-term weather data for Hong Kong were gathered and analysed. Statistical techniques were used to study the 37-year long-term weather characteristics from 1960 to 1996. Four key climatic variables, namely temperature (dry-bulb and wet-bulb), solar radiation (global, direct and diffuse), outdoor illuminance (global, direct and diffuse) and wind conditions were investigated. Frequency of occurrence and cumulative frequency distributions were determined and presented, and implications for building and building services designs were discussed.