A pedestrian crosses a street in Tseung Kwan O in south China's Hong Kong with Typhoon Signal No 8 and a Red Rainstorm Warning in force as the remnants of Typhoon Koinu lash the city on Oct 9, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is reviewing its contingency plans in the wake of the extreme weather that battered the city in recent months, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said Wednesday.

Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Tang said the review was being conducted to improve the city’s ability to handle natural disasters after the recent typhoons, flooding and rainstorms that hit the territory.

Hong Kong experienced extreme weather in September with the city lashed by the second most intense typhoon in the South China Sea since 1950 and a rainstorm described by the Hong Kong Observatory as “phenomenal” and which saw the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884

Hong Kong experienced extreme weather in September with the city lashed by the second most intense typhoon in the South China Sea since 1950 and a rainstorm described by the Hong Kong Observatory as “phenomenal” and which saw the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884.

On Oct 9, many commuters were stranded after strong winds and heavy rains brought by Typhoon Koinu lashed the city. 

Tang said the HKSAR government will make effective preparations, response, and recovery actions to lessen the impact of extreme weather.

ALSO READ: Saola-battered Hong Kong

“For example, prior to the rainy season and before the onset of a typhoon or rainstorm, the Drainage Services Department will make pre-arrangements to inspect and clear the public drainage systems, including rivers, open nullahs, drainage gullies and roadside drainage systems, to prevent them from being clogged by debris such as mud, stones, leaves and rubbish,” Tang sad.  

Government departments will also step up inspection, preparatory works and other preventive measures, including removing signboards that would pose a danger to the public, managing roadside trees at risk of falling, and ensuring that construction sites have implemented safety measures for inclement weather.

Tang said the HKO will also enhance information dissemination about heavy rain and brief the media hourly with a video about the latest weather condition when Black Rainstorm Warning is in force to allow the general public to get hold of the latest situation.

READ MORE: Hong Kong picks up the pieces as Saola moves away

The HKO had issued the Typhoon Signal No. 10 for the first time since 2018 when Super Typhoon Saola on Sept 1 while the torrential rains on Sept 7 and 8 led to the issuance of the Black Rainstorm Warning that lasted for 16 hours and 35 minutes, the longest since the rainstorm warning system was introduced in 1992.