Public Transport Returns To Normal After Wipha

The Transport Department says public transport, that was temporarily affected by tropical cyclone Wipha, has now returned to normal.

The Number 8 storm signal, the first of 2019, was in force for about 10 hours on Wednesday as heavy rain and strong winds lashed Hong Kong. It was cancelled at 11.40 pm and replaced with the Strong Wind Signal Number 3.

But the Observatory warned that winds were still strong and could reach speeds of over 70 kilometres per hour. It said the Number 3 signal would therefore remain in force on Thursday morning.

All the major bus companies ran their overnight schedules and early morning ferries began operating shortly afterwards, as did the Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal in Sheung Wan

There were few reports of damage, apart from a number of fallen trees, with Sham Mong Road in Mong Kok being blocked for a while. The Observatory, though, did issue a flood warning for the northern New Territories, with Pak Tin and Kam Tin being hit with over 100 millimetres of rainfall.

The storm caused the most disruption at the airport, where 25 flights cancelled and nearly 700 delayed.

The Education Bureau said, as the Number 3 Signal was now in force, classes of kindergartens, schools for children with physical and intellectual disabilities would be suspended in Thursday.