Education Bureau Sets School Opening Rain Rules
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong students return for the new school year on Tuesday, September 1, amid forecasts of possible rain and more unsettled weather early next week. The Education Bureau has issued a fresh reminder on class arrangements during typhoons and heavy rain, saying announcements will be made with reference to the Hong Kong Observatory’s latest weather information through broadcast media, government channels, its website, hotline and mobile app. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also urged students to prepare early for the first day of school and asked schools and teachers to deal with weather- or traffic-related lateness with discretion and flexibility
Key Points
- The Education Bureau said kindergartens, schools for children with physical disabilities and schools for children with intellectual disabilities should suspend classes when specified severe weather arrangements are triggered
- Unless separate instructions are issued, other schools should normally remain open, and class resumption after a downgrade to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 depends on the time of the change
- For morning and whole-day schools, students generally do not need to attend if the relevant warning is in force from 5:30am to before 8:00am
- If severe weather warnings are issued after classes have started, schools should keep operating until normal dismissal time and release students only when conditions are safe
- Choi said students should monitor both weather and traffic before school starts, while parents should pay attention to children’s emotions, especially those entering Primary One or Secondary One
Why It Matters
The first school day often brings heavier traffic and tighter morning schedules, so clear rules on weather disruptions can reduce confusion for families and schools across Hong Kong. The Education Bureau’s call for flexible handling of late arrivals also gives schools room to prioritise student safety over punctuality when rain, transport delays or unstable weather affect commuting.