A Hong Kong resident tapes windows in preparation for Super Typhoon Saola on Thursday, which was forecast to make landfall on the coast of Guangdong province and Hong Kong today. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will suspend schools on Friday, make contingency plans for the evacuation of residents, change traffic arrangements, open more temporary shelters, and boost manpower as the city braces for Super Typhoon Saola.
The storm, which is expected to be the nearest to the city from Friday evening to Saturday morning, may rival Typhoon Mangkhut of September 2018, according to the city’s weather watchdog. During Mangkhut, Hong Kong recorded an estimated direct economic loss of HK$4.6 billion ($586 million), with 458 injuries, 60,000 fallen trees, and 40,000 households losing power.
The Typhoon No 8 signal was hoisted early on Friday morning.
During a joint news conference on Thursday afternoon, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki cautioned the public not to lower its guard, to stay at home as much as possible, and to avoid going after the typhoon or engaging in water activities.
Chan told all involved city departments to raise alerts and make comprehensive assessments and contingency plan on the deployment of manpower, equipment and tools.
As a precautionary measure, all schools, including primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, kindergartens, and kindergartens cum childcare centers, will suspend classes on Friday. The Education Bureau will liaise with schools, providing detailed instructions and offering assistance where needed.
Earlier in the day, Chan chaired a cross-department meeting of over 20 government departments to coordinate comprehensive preparations and response strategies to address the potential severe impact of Saola.
The Home Affairs Department has opened more temporary shelters, while care teams have been deployed to offer assistance to those in need. The Social Welfare Department is actively engaging with ethnic minority communities, ensuring they are well-informed about the latest storm updates.
The Security Bureau has taken swift action, activating the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre to assess risks and devise appropriate measures to mitigate any potential harm. The police force will deploy 1,450 frontline officers to be on duty, with all emergency rescue teams on standby.
Automobile owners are advised not to attempt to remove their car if the garage is flooded, and to leave as soon as possible, the bureau cautioned.
The Fire Services Department will also reserve 300 people to back up the front-line rescue operations, and to provide ambulance services.
Chan also urged employers to prioritize the safety of their employees and make advance arrangements for work schedules, including flexible options such as remote work if necessary. Employers are encouraged to consider the practical difficulties and needs of individual employees, and to make arrangements for transportation, safety, meals, and rest when requiring employees to work under adverse weather conditions, he added.
The Hong Kong Observatory has forecast that Saola will be closest to Hong Kong on Friday night through early Saturday. Hong Kong Observatory Director Chan Pak-wai cautioned that even as the typhoon gradually moves away from the city, heavy rainfall is expected to continue on Sunday and Monday.
Chan Pak-wai said Typhoon Signal No 10 may be hoisted, depending on Saola’s proximity to Hong Kong and whether it passes just south of the city, as well as any changes in its intensity
One frequently hit residential area — Heng Fa Chuen, a seaside residential estate sitting at the east of Hong Kong Island — has equipped its several entrances and exits of the buildings with water barriers. Many residents have also taken precautions by applying adhesive tape to their windows.
Residents of Heng Fa Chuen have stored drinking water and moved their patio plants indoors as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, about 270 high-speed trains between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the Chinese mainland from Thursday through Monday have been canceled or have their destinations adjusted.
Some train services will have their final destinations changed to Shenzhen North Station or Guangzhou South Station. About 30 train services departing from both West Kowloon Station and the mainland on Thursday will be canceled, with over 100 train services scheduled for cancellation on Friday.
On Saturday, around 80 train services will be canceled, followed by over 50 cancellations on Sunday. On Monday, more than 10 train services will need to be canceled.
Cathay Pacific announced on Thursday to cancel all flights to and from Hong Kong between 2 pm on Friday and 10 am on Saturday. The city’s airliner said it will waive the fees for changing flights to and from Hong Kong on Friday and Saturday. Passengers are required to make the necessary changes by Saturday, and complete their travel by Sept 30.
