The Hong Kong Government issues a variety of weather warnings relating to weather patterns experienced in Hong Kong and the region. The Hong Kong Education Department requires all schools to have in place a contingency plan to enact should they close the schools due to inclement weather.
The procedures for school closure contained in this information have been formulated using The Education Department advice and requirements.
The four most common weather warnings are:
- Tropical cyclone (typhoon)
- Rain Warning (amber, red or black)
- Strong Wind Signal (monsoon)
- Thunderstorm Warning
Full details of the warning systems can be found on the Hong Kong Observatory's homepage:
http://www.info.gov.hk/hko/contente.htm
It may be useful for people new to Hong Kong to know that information regarding the weather conditions are regularly announced on the radio (Radio 3) and on local television stations such as Pearl and ATV Home. Many management offices in housing complexes will also display this information.
Schools remain open during strong wind signals and thunderstorm warnings. Schools may be required to close on certain Tropical cyclone signals and Rain warnings. Please ensure you, your helper and drivers are familiar with procedures which may lead to school closure.
To ensure our contingency plan operates smoothly, you are required to complete a Weather Warning Form for each child attending Kellett School. Please ensure you retain a copy for you reference and send an updated copy every time your family contact details change. Please inform Suky of any changes.
Tropical Cyclone Procedures
| Tropical Cyclone Signal |
Action to be taken |
| Hoisting No. 1 |
School will operate as normal |
| Hoisting No. 3 |
Reception classes close at the end of the school session. If hoisted before school starts, reception children stay at home.
P1-P6 pupils attend as usual unless advised otherwise by Public Service announcements. Please listen to your radio.
P1-P6 pupils living on the outlying islands attend at their parent's discretion.
Pupils and staff participating in residential visits on the outlying islands return to HK island. |
| Hoisting No. 8 |
School closes.
Before 1.30 pm, buses will not run. All children must be collected by parent or an adult identified in the front of your child's school diary.
From 1.30 pm or after, buses will run as normal. Children will leave school by the means identified in the front of your child's school diary. |
| Lowering to No. 3 |
P1-P6 classes return at the beginning of the next school day, unless road or other conditions remain adverse. Please listen to Public Service Announcements on the radio.
Reception classes remain closed.
P1-P6 pupils from the outlying islands attend at their parents discretion. |
| Lowering to No. 1 |
All classes resume at the beginning of the next school day. |
Rain Warning System Procedures
| Rain Warning Signal |
Action to be taken |
| Amber Signal |
Unless the Director of Education has a made special announcement on closure of schools, the school will operate as usual. |
Red - before 6.15am
Red - between 6.15am and 9.00am
Black - between 6.15am and 9.00 am |
If a Red Rainstorm Warning goes up before 6.15 am the school is closed to children.
However, staff are expected to attend provided that their personal safety is not put in danger.
School will be open and contingency plans activated to arrange for staff to look after those children who have already arrived at the school until the end of school hours. Conditions should be safe before allowing children to return home.
Children who have not yet left for school should stay at home and do not have to attend school. Children on their way to school should proceed, or return home if conditions are safe.
School will be closed all day |
| Red or Black Signal after 9.00am |
School should implement contingency measures to ensure the safety of children. If lessons have started they should continue until 2.30pm/3:15pm and conditions should be safe before they return home.
If a Red Signal is hoisted at anytime during the day the buses will run as normal.
If a Black Signal is hoisted BEFORE 1.30 PM School Buses will NOT run and the children will need to be collected.
If a Black signal is hoisted AFTER 1.30 PM the school buses will operate as NORMAL and if conditions are safe the children will be allowed to return home.
(If the signal should be raised during the first term when Reception children are in for ½ days, then they may be collected by parents at any time provided it is safe.) |
| Lowering to Amber or lowering all signals |
Subject to Public Service Announcements school will open the next school day. |
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