Social Welfare
The Social Welfare Department implements the welfare policies the Labour & Welfare Bureau formulates. Its services include social security, services for the elderly, family and child welfare services, services for young people and rehabilitation and medical social services.
Observatory
The Hong Kong Observatory's mission is to deliver useful and effective meteorological services; to provide quality services in climate, radiation, time standard, seismology, oceanography and astronomy; and to strengthen public preparedness for natural disasters.
The Hong Kong Observatory has issued Strong Wind Signal No. 3 as Severe Typhoon Megi moves closer to the coast of eastern Guangdong.
Classes at kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability, schools for children with intellectual disability, and Vocational Training Council's Shine Skills Centres are suspended today.
The Social Welfare Department advised people not to take their children or family members to child care centres, elderly services centres or day rehabilitation units, including sheltered workshops and day activity centres. These centres will, however, remain open to serve those whose families cannot provide alternative care for them.
The Home Affairs Department has activated a public enquiry service hotline - 2835 1473 - to provide a round-the-clock enquiry service on the tropical cyclone.
Typhoon track
At 1pm, Severe Typhoon Megi was estimated to be about 440 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong and is forecast to move north at about 8 kilometres an hour across the northern part of the South China Sea and gradually edge closer to the coast of eastern Guangdong.
Under the influence of the dry northeast monsoon, local weather will not deteriorate rapidly today. The Strong Wind Signal No.3 will remain in force for some time, and the chance of Signal No.8 is not high today.
Precautions
People should take precautionary measures and make sure all loose objects are secure and all windows and doors can be securely locked.
Since there are swells, people should stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports. They should avoid walking or working in areas exposed to high winds. Drivers using highways and flyovers should be alert to violent gusts.
Engineers, architects and contractors are again reminded that all scaffoldings, hoardings and temporary buildings should be secured. Small craft owners should now complete arrangements for the safety of their boats.
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