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The Education Bureau (EDB) and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) have put in place an enhanced arrangement under which the announcement of class suspension will be issued simultaneously with a red or black rainstorm warning signal within the relevant period so that schools, parents and students will know of the class suspension arrangements as quickly as possible, an EDB spokesman said today (June 16).
"For instance, classes of AM and whole-day schools are to be suspended all day when the red or black rainstorm warning is issued before 8am. If the warning is issued at or after 8am, students should continue to attend class at schools," the spokesman said.
An updated leaflet has been uploaded to the websites of the EDB (www.edb.gov.hk/en/index.html) and HKO (www.weather.gov.hk/school/main.shtml) to draw parents' attention to the points they need to note when a rainstorm warning signal is in force.
For the school sector, the EDB approached the district school heads associations earlier to remind them of the need to comply with the requirements set out in the relevant EDB circular and to take appropriate follow-up actions to ensure students' safety upon issuance of a rainstorm warning signal. As required by the circular, schools should draw up in advance a school-based contingency plan to cope with various situations that may arise under inclement weather conditions. The contingency plan may include work arrangements and response measures for the school staff, lunch arrangement and school bus service during the effective period of a rainstorm warning signal. Schools should also issue circular letters to keep their staff, students, parents and those involved fully informed of these contingency arrangements.
The EDB plans to hold briefings for schools in early July to explain the existing class suspension arrangements and the follow-up actions to be taken by schools. Details of the briefings will be announced in the EDB circular to be issued in due course.
"With close co-operation and communication among various parties, we believe that schools and parents will be able to effectively deal with emergencies and ensure the safety of students under inclement weather conditions," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, June 16, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:00
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