With Super Typhoon Ragasa edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the steering committee for the handling of extreme weather.

The meeting was convened to holistically review, and further steer and co-ordinate cross-departmental thorough and adequate preparations and response efforts, to address the possible threats that Ragasa may pose to the city.

The Hong Kong Observatory has forecast Ragasa will edge closer to the coast of Guangdong with Super Typhoon intensity midweek this week. Local weather will deteriorate quickly later on Tuesday. Gale to storm force winds will prevail on Wednesday, and winds may reach hurricane force offshore and on high ground.

The weather will be adverse with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms, and the sea level over coastal areas may be similar to that of Hato in 2017, and Mangkhut in 2018.

Members of the public are advised to pay close attention the latest weather information from the Observatory, and be well-prepared for high winds and flooding.

At the meeting, it was reported that the Security Bureau’s Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre will be fully activated upon the issuance of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8.

Various emergency response teams from the Fire Services Department, Police, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service are on standby, with sufficient manpower deployed to handle possible emergencies and assist those in need.

The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.

The Development Bureau has stepped up preventive and defensive measures to co-ordinate preparedness efforts to deal with flooding, landslides and fallen trees, and ensure safety of building structures. Emergency control centres of its departments, with additional manpower specially deployed, are ready to be activated at any time for a holistic response.

The Drainage Services Department has completed the inspections and clearance work at about 240 locations across the city which are prone to flooding due to blockages.

In addition, it has increased the number of emergency response teams by 20 to a total of 200 to handle flooding and clear drainage channels, deployed powerful pumping robots on standby in advance at locations with higher risk of flooding, and provided additional sandbags to areas with higher flooding risks.

The Highways Department inspected again the pump room facilities at vehicular tunnels as well as the flood warning systems installed at Kwun Tong Road Underpass and 16 pedestrian subways with a higher risk of flooding, from September 19 to 22 to ensure normal operation.

Manpower and machinery have been deployed in advance to enable a swift response to emergencies on public roads that may arise.

District Offices will open temporary shelters in advance. Moreover, members of District Councils, “the three committees” as well as District Services & Community Care Teams, are mobilised to remind residents in flood-prone areas to make necessary preparations.

Based on the Observatory’s latest assessment and forecast tomorrow, the Education Bureau will announce later tomorrow the arrangements for school attendance on September 23 and for submission of paper applications for discretionary places under the Primary One Admission 2026.