Chief Executive defends Education Bureau’s decision to cancel classes


A red rainstorm warning was raised twice in five hours on Tuesday morning before being downgraded to amber, as the Chief Executive defended the Education Bureau from parents’ anger about cancelled classes.

After criticism from one lawmaker, Leung Chun-ying said public safety was the top priority.
Classes were suspended and office workers braved heavy downpours as the red signal was raised at 7.35 on Tuesday morning. An amber warning had been raised since 6am.
By 9.35am the Hong Kong Observatory downgraded that warning back to amber, as forecast storms passed to the north of Hong Kong Island, but the thunderstorm warning was extended until 1.45pm, with squally thunderstorms forecast throughout the day.

But at 11.20am the red warning was raised again, to be downgraded again at 1.45pm.

The Education Bureau announced it would suspend classes for all morning schools and whole-day schools after the first red signal.
Classes were also cancelled for the afternoon, but the bureau said schools needed to stay open and take care of students who had already arrived.