e-Bulletin for Parents - 3 September 2024

General Schooling Arrangements in Times of Tropical Cyclones

During the rain and tropical cyclone season, Hong Kong may occasionally be affected by tropical cyclones and the weather becomes unstable, with the possibility of strong winds and heavy rainfalls.

Students and parents are therefore reminded that in the event of tropical cyclones and heavy persistent rain, the Education Bureau (EDB) will announce the class suspension arrangements for that day based on the latest weather information and the conditions of roads, slopes, and traffic. The announcements will be made through the following channels:

Radio and televisions
Government press releases (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/today.htm)
EDB Website (https://www.edb.gov.hk/)
EDB Hotline (Telephone: 2891 0088)
Mobile application “GovHK Notifications”

(download link: https://www.gov.hk/en/theme/govhknotifications/)

When tropical cyclones affect Hong Kong, the following general schooling arrangements will apply:

Weather conditions

Corresponding measures

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 is issued

All schools, including kindergartens, are to operate as usual unless advised otherwise.

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 is issued

All Classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are to be suspended.
Other schools are to operate as usual unless advised otherwise.

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Pre-No. 8 / No. 8 or above is issued

Classes of all schools are to be suspended.

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is replaced by Signal No. 3

Classes of all kindergartens, schools for children with physical disability and schools for children with intellectual disability are to remain suspended.
Unless previous announcement has been made to the effect that classes will be suspended for the entire day, other schools are to resume if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 3 has been issued before 5:30 a.m. (for AM and whole-day schools), 10:30 a.m. (for PM schools) or 5:00 p.m. (for evening schools).

When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 is replaced by Signal No. 1 or when all tropical cyclone signals are cancelled

All schools are to resume with the next session unless previous announcement has been made to the effect that classes will be suspended for the entire day.

When “The combined effect of strong wind and prolonged rainstorm is affecting/expected to affect Hong Kong” is disseminated by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO)

In general, if this information is disseminated during the following periods, it means that student need not attend schools:
- At or after 5:30 a.m. and before 8:00 a.m.: AM and Whole-day Schools
- At or after 10:30 a.m. and before 1:00 p.m.: PM Schools
- At or after 5:00 p.m. and before 7:00 p.m.: Evening Schools

If the above information is disseminated during school hours, schools should continue lessons until the end of normal school hours and ought to ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home. Parents do not need to pick up their children from school immediately.

Students and parents please refer to the EDB circulars (arrangements for kindergartens and day schools; arrangements for evening schools) for details and preparation. For more information on the combined effect of strong wind and prolonged rainstorm, please refer to the HKO’s online educational resources.

As the situations in localised areas may differ from the territory as a whole, parents can exercise their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school if the local weather, roads, slopes or traffic conditions are adverse. Schools will be flexible in handling the affected students who arrive late or are absent from school at parents’ discretion on the day, and such students will not be penalised.

Weather conditions can change rapidly, so it is important for students and parents to pay close attention to the latest weather conditions provided by the HKO and check if the EDB has announced class suspension before leaving for school and during their journey to ensure safety.