Super Typhoon Ragasa brought hurricane-force winds to many parts of Hong Kong, causing flooding in coastal and low-lying areas due to overtopping waves and storm surges. The steering committee on handling extreme weather, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, swiftly co-ordinated with various government departments to minimise the impact of the typhoon on the public.

This afternoon, Mr Chan visited a site in the Central & Western District affected by fallen trees and a landslide to inspect the clean-up and recovery progress. He then chaired a meeting of the steering committee on handling extreme weather, where he received updates from bureaus and departments, and comprehensively reviewed their emergency response and recovery efforts.

Government departments mobilised all necessary manpower and resources to expedite clearing obstacles from major roads and bus routes. According to current assessments, major roads and public transport are expected to reopen when the Observatory issues the Strong Wind Signal No. 3.

The Security Bureau’s Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre was fully activated more than 24 hours before the Observatory issued the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal, ensuring the best priorities for emergency decision-making.

The Development Bureau maintained close liaison with works departments and the Buildings Department to deploy resources of contractors to expedite the progress of the recovery work.

As of 5pm, 19 flooding cases were confirmed, of which 14 were resolved by the Drainage Services Department. Once all flooding cases have been resolved, the department will conduct inspections and carry out clearance at about 240 flood-prone locations, as well as examine the drainage conditions of 80 major rivers and drainage channels to ensure their smooth operation.

Regarding the safety of structures, the Buildings Department’s Emergency Control Centre received 25 emergency reports related to signboards and scaffoldings at construction sites, 22 of which were resolved.

Meanwhile, the Geotechnical Engineering Office received four reports of landslides, with two of them involving slope and retaining wall failures caused by fallen trees. The office has arranged for geotechnical engineers to assist relevant departments for follow-up work.

As regards fallen trees, the Development Bureau had, for the purpose of enhancing efficiency, identified some 50 plots of government land for government departments’ temporary storage of fallen trees and debris before they can be sent to landfills for disposal.

Separately, the Fire Services Department handled 143 reports of people trapped in lifts, 454 reports from automatic fire alarm systems, 393 reports of fallen trees, and two reports of landslides. In 16 flooding incidents, assistance was also provided to 61 people to get them to safe places.

Furthermore, as of 5pm, the Highways Department received around 1,620 reports of road incidents. Its emergency response teams had also been mobilised to remove fallen trees and obstructions on roads, clear debris-clogged roadside drains and channels, as well as carry out emergency cordoning-off and urgent repair works for collapsed slopes. The 16 pedestrian subways along Shing Mun River, Lam Tsuen River and Tai Po River, which had been temporarily closed due to inclement weather, were reopened starting from 5pm.

Additionally, during the tropical cyclone, the Home Affairs Department and district offices had 50 temporary shelters in operation, accommodating a total of about 900 residents.

The steering committee on handling extreme weather emphasised that government staff will continue to fulfil their duties, working together with various sectors to fully engage in community recovery efforts and provide appropriate support to those in need.