[Updates] Black Rainstorm Warning Signal will remain in effect in Hong Kong until at least 5pm

閱讀中文版本

The Labour Department has reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions as early as possible.

This story has been updated at 2pm to reflect new information from HKO.

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 5:50am today (5 August), marking the second issuance in less than seven hours and the fourth within a week.

This warning indicates that heavy rain, exceeding 70mm per hour, has fallen or is expected to fall across Hong Kong and is likely to continue. The HKO has also forecasted that intense gusts may affect the city.

According to the latest updates from HKO at 2pm, the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is expected to remain in effect until at least 5pm.

Classes of all morning schools and whole-day schools are suspended today. Additionally, all welfare services units of the Social Welfare Department will not open to the public.

Court and tribunal registries, as well as offices, will remain closed and will reopen as soon as practicable within two hours after the cancellation of the Black Rainstorm Warning.

All post offices, delivery services, immigration services, out-patient clinics and day hospitals under the Hospital Authority, and clinics under the Department of Health, will also close.

The local weather conditions are severe, with persistent rainstorms potentially causing serious road flooding and traffic congestion. The public is advised to take shelter in safe locations and avoid watercourses.

The Labour Department (LD) has reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions as early as possible, including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable).

An LD spokesperson suggested that employers should be sympathetic and handle cases flexibly for staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time after a rainstorm warning is lifted. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely, or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work.

If the Government makes an extreme conditions announcement, apart from those required by employers to report for duty at workplaces, employees are advised to stay in the place they are currently in or in safe places when extreme conditions are in force, instead of heading for work.

Employees who have already reported for duty at workplaces could continue to work as usual in a safe manner. If the workplaces are in danger, employers should release staff from work early under feasible conditions and in a safe manner or make available a safe place as temporary shelter for employees.

If the working time ends while extreme conditions are still in force, employers can release employees from workplaces in a safe manner or provide a suitable area as temporary shelter for those still at workplaces.

If it is necessary for employees to report for duty at workplaces under adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers should discuss and agree with them in advance the duty arrangements and contingency measures.