Black Rainstorm Warning Signal issued in Hong Kong amid severe weather

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It will remain in effect at least until 11am.

The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 7:50am today (14 August). According to the present assessment, it will remain in force at least until 11am.

The outer rainbands of Tropical Storm Podul are currently affecting the Pearl River Estuary, bringing heavy squally showers and severe squally thunderstorms across the region.

The Observatory has urged the public to take shelter in a safe place and avoid travel until the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is lifted and traffic conditions improve.

The Labour Department (LD) has also reminded employers to adopt a flexible approach in managing work arrangements for employees during and after rainstorm warnings and extreme conditions.

A LD spokesperson said: “In making the assessment, employers should take into account the safety of employees, the business nature, operational needs and urgency of service, with due regard to the manpower requirements, staffing establishment and individual situations of employees, and keep the number of staff at workplaces to the minimum as far as possible."

The spokesperson also emphasised that natural disasters are unavoidable.

As such, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume work on time due to adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonuses or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, nor ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty.