A spokesman for the Development Bureau today (July 20) said that its departments and relevant departments are making all-out efforts to carry out relief work after the passage of Typhoon Wipha, with a view to enabling the community to resume normalcy as soon as possible.
      
     As at 8pm today, the Government's 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received 286 and 425 reports of fallen trees respectively. In order to remove fallen trees affecting carriageways and footpaths as early as possible, prior to the issuance of Strong Wind Signal No. 3 by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Highways Department has commenced inspections of carriageways across the territory to immediately remove fallen trees when necessary.
      
     During the passage of Typhoon Wipha, five reports of collapsed scaffolding were received as at 7pm. Among these, the Housing Department removed the scaffolding affecting Choi Hung Road at around 3pm and is making arrangement to dismantle the scaffolding collapsed on Wah King Street near Wah Fu Estate. The Architectural Services Department is striving to remove the scaffolding collapsed on Siu Sai Wan Road, with a view to resuming traffic soonest. There are two separate scaffoldings collapsed at private housing estates at Cloud View Road, North Point and Tin Hau Temple Road respectively. The former is affecting the outdoor carpark of the estate while the latter is affecting Tin Hau Temple Road. The Buildings Department (BD) is proactively following up with relevant owners' corporations and the scaffolding affecting Tin Hau Temple Road will be removed as soon as possible.
      
     As at 6pm, the BD received 21 reports of building-related incidents, which mainly involve unstable windows. The BD is following up on 15 cases and has referred the remaining six cases to relevant departments for follow up.
      
     As at 8pm, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has received seven confirmed cases of flooding at Lam Kam Road in Tai Po, Lung Cheung Road near Lung Cheung Mall, Lung Cheung Road near Ngau Chi Wan Village, Tai Hom Road in Wong Tai Sin, Clear Water Bay Road in Sai Kung, Chuk Yuen Road in Wong Tai Sin, and Ko Chiu Road in Yau Tong. The aforementioned cases have been resolved.
      
     As storm surge might lead to a rise in sea levels and increase the flooding risk in the area of Tai Po Market, the DSD made early preparation and implemented various flood prevention measures last night (July 19), including installing temporary water-filled flood barriers near Kwong Fuk Bridge along Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po, and placing water pumps in the vicinity of Tai Po Market and Sam Mun Tsai New Village. No report of flooding at the aforementioned locations has been received so far.
      
     Moreover, Typhoon Wipha did not result in any landslide incidents.
      
     The spokesman said the relevant departments have commenced a new round of special inspections after the issuance of Strong Wind Signal No. 3 by the Hong Kong Observatory to inspect roadside trees, structures (including external walls and signboards), slopes and construction sites, etc. to identify locations with potential risks after the passage of strong wind to ensure public safety. The Government urges members of the public to remain vigilant when going outdoors, and avoid staying under trees, signboards or structures with signs of concrete spalling, as well as in the vicinity of slopes. They may call the Government's 1823 hotline to report dangerous trees, slopes and structures.

Ends/Sunday, July 20, 2025
Issued at HKT 23:26

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