Hong Kong weather
Today there will be heavy rain and strong winds and thunderstorms, and the rain will gradually weaken later. The maximum temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius. Blowing and slowing the southeast wind. Tomorrow there will be heavy rain and several thunderstorms. There will be a brief period of sunshine early next week.
September 8
Friday
Lu
- The Hong Kong Observatory issued a black rainstorm warning signal at 11:05 last night, and torrential rain continued to fall at night, flooding in many areas of Hong Kong. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu issued a statement saying that he is very concerned about the above situation, and many government departments are making every effort to take countermeasures. Mr Lee reminded the public to stay in a safe place as much as possible in light of the actual situation, and pay attention to the latest weather news and information issued by the Government.
- The Hong Kong SAR Government announced at 5:34 today that all day schools will be closed today due to the impact of heavy rainfall caused by the remnants of the "sea anemone" related low-pressure trough, widespread flooding in Hong Kong, and extreme circumstances of severe obstruction of public transport. In addition, the Hong Kong Government calls on employers to adopt reasonable and flexible working arrangements with reference to the work arrangements under Typhoon No. 8, prioritising the safety of employees and the feasibility of commuting to and from their places of residence.
- The Hong Kong Observatory said at 1:15 today that the low-pressure trough associated with the remnants of sea anemones has brought heavy rain to the coast of Guangdong since last night. From 6pm to 12 midnight last night, most areas recorded more than 70mm rainfall, while Kowloon, Northeast New Territories and Hong Kong Island recorded more than 200mm rain. The Observatory Headquarters recorded 158.1 mm of rain in one hour from 11pm to 12 midnight last week, the highest recorded since records began in 1884. Due to severe flooding of roads and bad weather conditions, members of the public should pay attention to safety.
- The Labour Department of Hong Kong reminded employers today that the Hong Kong Government has made an extreme situation announcement and should not require employees to return to work except for necessary personnel. Employers who fail to comply with the relevant provisions of the Employment Ordinance without reasonable excuse may be prosecuted. Employers must also bear in mind that they have a duty under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees.
- On September 8, as the black rainstorm warning continued and the Hong Kong government announced that extreme circumstances came into effect, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange announced the cancellation of the securities and derivatives markets, including the morning trading session of the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Connect. If the Black Rainstorm Warning is cancelled on or before 12 noon, HKEX will resume trading in the afternoon and will start trading on the hour or 30 minutes after the Black Rain Warning is cancelled at least 2 hours. If the Black Rain Warning is still in effect at 12 noon, trading in Hong Kong stocks will be suspended for the whole day.
- In view of the inclement weather, all welfare service units under the Social Welfare Department, child care centres, centres providing after-school care services, elderly service centres and day rehabilitation service units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation service centres, integrated vocational training centres and development centres in Hong Kong will not be open. SWD said that when the black rainstorm warning signal is cancelled, the units will resume normal services within two hours, weather and conditions permitting.
- MTR announced today that the Airport Express Hong Kong Station downtown pre-check-in service has returned to normal. The Airport Authority Hong Kong said public transport services to and from the airport could be affected due to bad weather. Please check the transfer service in advance and allow enough time to get to and from the airport.
- On 8 September, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority announced that all general outpatient clinics, specialist outpatient clinics, allied health services and other day services under its jurisdiction will be suspended this morning due to inclement weather. For patients who have already made an appointment, please make an appointment at a later date. Public hospital emergency departments maintain normal services.
- At 5 a.m. today, the Port Office of the Shenzhen Municipal Government issued an announcement that due to the heavy rainfall on September 7, the underground equipment rooms of Liantang Port and Wenjindu Port were flooded, and some facilities and equipment were damaged. After consultation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, customs clearance services at Liantang Port and Man Kam Ferry Port will be suspended from the time of the announcement until further announcement. During the suspension of services at Wenjin Ferry Port and Liantang Port, fresh food vehicles supplied to Hong Kong will be transferred to Huanggang Port, and other trucks may be transferred to Shenzhen Bay Port. Passenger buses at Wenjindu and Liantang ports can be transferred to Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay ports. For subsequent changes, please pay attention to the official account released by Shenzhen Port.
- Shenzhen emergency, meteorology, education department reminded: last night this morning Shenzhen fell exceptionally heavy rain, heavy rain red warning continues to be in effect, the whole city of Shenzhen on the 8th suspended classes, please continue to do a good job of defense. As of 06:00 on the morning of September 8, the red warning signal for heavy rain (Luohu, Nanshan, Futian, Yantian, Bao'an, Guangming, Longhua, Longgang) and the orange warning signal for heavy rain (other areas) are currently in effect!
- According to the Shenzhen Luohu District Flood Control and Drought Prevention and Wind Prevention Headquarters, from September 7 to 8, Shenzhen was affected by super heavy rainfall beyond the historical extreme, the red warning signal of heavy rain is still in effect, and many sections of Luohu District have generated deep water, and traffic diversion work is being urgently handled. According to the current meteorological and traffic conditions, after research, it was decided that enterprises and institutions in Luohu District and residents living in Luohu District would stop work for one day.
- According to Guangzhou Railway news, affected by the residual circulation of typhoon anemone, many cities and counties in the Pearl River Delta experienced heavy rainfall and local heavy rainfall. In order to ensure the safety of railway transportation, the Guangzhou Railway Group has taken measures such as detours and suspension of Guangzhou-Shenzhen intercity lines, which may cause inconvenience to the majority of passengers. The roundabout and suspended trains are as follows:
- Yesterday, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone of the Loop welcomed nearly 100 guests including academicians, experts, industry leaders and other guests to witness the official opening of the Shenzhen Branch of the Hong Kong Science Park, the first Hong Kong-operated science and technology innovation park in the Mainland, jointly funded by the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. This is the first branch of Hong Kong Science Park in the Mainland, the first scientific research space operated by Hong Kong in the Mainland and subject to international management rules, and the first science and technology innovation park in the Loop Co-operation Zone to enjoy joint assessment and joint support for unique policies between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, marking a new stage of Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology innovation cooperation.
- Yesterday morning, the Shenzhen Park of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone of the Loop held the 2023 Centralized Signing of New Introduced Projects and the Centralized Settlement of New Completed Projects, and 40 projects were signed in batches. This centralized signing and settlement activity is the first major event held in the Loop after the central government issued the "Development Plan of Shenzhen Park of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone of the Loop" (the "Loop Plan"), and it is also the largest project signing and settlement activity in the Loop Cooperation Zone since its planning and construction in 2017.
- The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong and the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr Wang Shourui, co-chaired the 10th meeting of the Joint Task Force on the Development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop yesterday. Sun Dong said at the meeting that the HKSAR Government is very grateful to the Central Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government for their strong support for the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (the Cooperation Zone). The cooperation zone is built on both sides of the Shenzhen River with the concept of "two banks of one river" and "one district and two parks". The series of measures proposed in the Shenzhen Park Development Plan, including how to work with Hong Kong to promote international technological innovation, will inject new impetus into the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and push it to a new level.
- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will release a new policy address next month. A number of DAB legislators met with Mr Lee yesterday and made 88 recommendations on the Policy Address, including reducing transaction costs in the property market and stock market.
- During her visit to Munich, Germany, on the 6th local time, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, Ms Yinghua Yau, promoted the huge business opportunities brought by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the unique advantages and potential of Hong Kong. He pointed out that Hong Kong will play one of the core engines for promoting the coordinated development of the regional economy.
- A spokesman for the Hong Kong SAR Government said yesterday that this year's National Day fireworks display, co-sponsored by Hong Kong Telecommunications Limited and FWD Life Insurance (Bermuda) Limited, will be held at 9pm over Victoria Harbour on October 1.
- The Hong Kong Consumer Council yesterday publicly condemned four pharmacies in Causeway Bay, mainly involving unscrupulous business practices commonly known as "jin change" and "両change money", the actual amount of which is 10 to 16 times more expensive than the amount understood by customers. Since 2021, the Council has received 96 complaints against these four pharmacies, more than half of which were received after customs clearance resumed this year, and more than 80% of the complaints related to unfair sales practices.
- About 10 Hong Kong citizens spontaneously went to the British Consulate General in Hong Kong yesterday to petition for a thorough investigation into the incident of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London being sprayed with red oil. Mr. Zeng expressed his strong condemnation and resolute protest.
- The Secretary for the Civil Service of Hong Kong, Ms Vivian Yeung, spoke with over 100 Hong Kong students studying in Huaqiao University Xiamen Campus in Fujian Province yesterday to deepen their understanding of the work of civil servants in the HKSAR Government and the different employment opportunities available to young people, and encouraged them to prepare for future career development. She also met with Huaqiao University President Wu Jianping and university staff to learn about the learning situation and work intentions of Hong Kong students.
- Hong Kong environmental group Food Tak Hao said yesterday that the 15th of August in the lunar calendar this year is the first Mid-Autumn Festival after the epidemic, and the government is also trying to stimulate the economy in various ways. According to the latest survey, Hong Kong people wasted 3.2 million mooncakes last year, or 15 out of every 100 mooncakes. In addition, the problem of mooncake packaging waste is also worthy of attention.
- With the opening of HKEX's London office, HKEX Chief Executive Officer Au Guansheng said yesterday that with operations in the world's three major time zones, HKEX can more effectively connect capital and opportunities, enhance global connectivity and further strengthen Hong Kong's role as a global super-connector.
- Jointly organised by the Guangdong Provincial Museum, the Macao Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the travelling exhibition "A Tale of Three Cities – The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and Silk Export in the Ming and Qing Dynasties" will be held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art from today until 17 December.
- BOCHK launched the second phase of the Cross-border Shopping Festival, which was jointly launched by the Bank of China, together with the People's Government of Futian District of Shenzhen, the People's Government of Luohu District of Shenzhen and the Shenzhen Branch of Bank of China (3988) for local customers going north. From now until September 24, the first 3,888 customers who successfully register and open a digital RMB wallet through BoC Pay will receive 300 yuan in digital RMB consumption red envelopes in Futian District, Luohu District and Bank of China.
- SHKP announced yesterday that as of the end of June this year, the profit attributable to shareholders for the year was HK$23.907 billion, down 6.47% year-on-year; Excluding the impact of changes in the fair value of investment properties, underlying profit decreased by 16.86% year-on-year to HK$23,885 million. Earnings per share of HK$8.25, final dividend of HK$3.7 per share, together with an interim dividend of HK$1.25, paid a full-year dividend of HK$4.95, the same as last year, accounting for approximately 60% of the underlying profit for the year. SHKP said it will adhere to its dividend policy in the future and distribute 40% to 50% of its underlying profit as a dividend.
- Yesterday, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (Yavan high-speed railway), jointly built by China and Indonesia, was officially put into operation. Commercial operations will begin in early October. This marks that Indonesia has entered the era of high-speed rail, and China and Indonesia have achieved major landmark results in jointly building the "Belt and Road".
- Yesterday, He Yadong, the new spokesman of China's Ministry of Commerce, said at a regular press conference that the Ministry of Commerce has taken multiple measures to promote the digital development of the business sector, including vigorously developing digital trade, accelerating the digital transformation of domestic trade circulation, improving the digital level of trade and investment, and promoting international cooperation and rule-making in the digital field. He revealed that of the 21 free trade agreements that China has signed so far, 10 have set up special chapters on e-commerce or digital economy, and the international circle of friends of the digital economy has been expanding.
- According to the website of the Central Meteorological Observatory, the Central Meteorological Observatory continued to issue a yellow warning for heavy rain at 06 o'clock on September 8: It is expected that from 08 o'clock on September 8 to 08 o'clock on September 9, there will be heavy to heavy rain in the south and east of Guangxi, southeastern Guangxi, eastern and southern Hainan, southern Taiwan Island and eastern Gansu, northern Shaanxi, central Hebei, western and northern Beijing, among which, there will be heavy rainfall (100~180 mm) in parts of central and southwestern coastal areas of Guangdong. Some of the above areas are accompanied by short-term heavy precipitation (maximum hourly rainfall of 20~50 mm, local can exceed 80 mm), local thunderstorms, winds and other strong convective weather.
- In the early morning of the 8th, affected by the typhoon circulation, there was a "train effect" in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and other places, and the rain belt continued to come ashore. As of 7:13 on September 8, the number of red warnings for heavy rain in Guangdong has increased to 60. The Guangdong Meteorological Observatory predicts that there will continue to be heavy rainfall in the Pearl River Delta and surrounding prefectures and cities on September 8, so pay attention to defense.
- Affected by the residual cloud system and monsoon outside Typhoon "Anemone", many cities and counties in the Pearl River Delta have experienced heavy rainfall and local heavy rainfall, and it is judged that the rainfall process will continue to affect Guangdong Province, and the risk of flooding of small and medium-sized rivers, flash floods, geological disasters and urban and rural waterlogging is extremely high. According to the "Guangdong Provincial Emergency Plan for Flood Control, Drought, Wind and Freeze Prevention" and the relevant regulations of the Provincial General Department of Flood Control, the General Headquarters of Guangdong Flood Prevention and Drought and Wind Prevention decided to upgrade the flood control level IV emergency response to level II at 1:30 on September 8.
- Yesterday, BMI Research, a subsidiary of rating agency Fitch, released its latest report, saying that the Indian consumer market will rise to 3rd in the world by 2027, after China and the United States.
- Comprehensive US media reports, on the 6th local time, US Vice President He Jinli said that if President Biden cannot continue to govern due to health and age, she is ready to perform her constitutional duties and take over the presidency.
- According to the China News Agency, on the 6th local time, US Secretary of State Blinken suddenly visited Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a package of aid to Ukraine. In addition, the US Department of Defense announced on the 6th local time that it will hand over depleted uranium bombs to Ukraine in a new package of military assistance.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the East Asia Summit yesterday that the world faces the risk of a serious rupture in the economic and financial system. Citing geopolitical tensions, multilateral financing for development and climate change, Guterres called on world leaders to find peaceful and inclusive solutions to the challenges facing the world.
- According to CCTV news reports, on September 7, local time, the government of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil confirmed that the torrential rains that have continued to hit the state since the end of last week have killed 39 people, and 9 people are still missing, and more than 6,000 people are homeless or displaced. Government rescue teams have rescued more than 2,700 people in 79 affected cities in the state. On the same day, the National Meteorological Institute issued more storm and flood warnings for the state.
- According to CCTV news reports, on the 7th local time, British Prime Minister Xin Weicheng said that Birmingham, the second largest city in the United Kingdom, was "de facto bankrupt" and had ruled out the possibility of a rescue by the British central government.
- Yesterday, Japan successfully launched a small lunar landing probe and an X-ray astronomy satellite with an H2A rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. According to the plan, SLIM will reach orbit around the moon within three to four months of launch and challenge landing four to six months later.
- According to Reuters, on September 7, local time, two terrorist attacks occurred in Mali, killing at least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers. Mali's government said the number of dead and wounded could continue to rise and Mali would engage in three days of national mourning. Meanwhile, the Malian government said about 50 of the attackers were killed.
Editor: Ming Qi
Proofreader: Zhuo Ling
Reviewed: Oriole
Executive Producer: Yu Shan