Typhoons, rainstorms and public holidays
What the typhoon and rainstorm warnings mean, and what usually stops or keeps running: trains, work, schools, clinics and parks. Includes the general holidays for 2026 and 2027. Sources checked 24 October 2026; what is not published is listed at the end.
Sources checked ·
What do the typhoon signals mean?#
The Hong Kong Observatory uses Signals 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10. Signal 1 means a tropical cyclone is within about 800 km and may affect Hong Kong. Signal 3 means strong wind of 41-62 km/h is blowing or expected. Signal 8 means gale or storm force wind of 63-117 km/h, with gusts that may exceed 180 km/h. Signal 9 means gale or storm force wind is increasing or expected to increase significantly. Signal 10 means hurricane force wind of 118 km/h or above. The Observatory says that when Signal 9 or 10 is issued, precautions should be complete and people should stay indoors, away from exposed windows and doors.
How will I know Signal 8 is coming?#
The Observatory makes a Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement when it expects Signal 8 within two hours. It describes this as advice given about two hours before the signal, so people can prepare and employers can stagger staff release. It is an expectation, not a guaranteed lead time.
The Observatory says gale force winds are normally expected within 12 hours after Signal 8 replaces Signal 3. Signal 8 has four versions: NW, SW, NE and SE. The letters give the direction the gale comes from, not the part of Hong Kong affected.
What do the Amber, Red and Black rainstorm warnings mean?#
Amber means heavy rain of more than 30 mm in an hour has fallen or is expected generally over Hong Kong, with flooding in some low-lying areas. Red means more than 50 mm in an hour, and further rain could cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. Black means more than 70 mm in an hour, and the Observatory advises people to take shelter in a safe place and stay there. People with nowhere safe can use temporary shelters opened by the Home Affairs Department.
The figures are for guidance only. A Red can be issued without a preceding Amber, and a Black without a preceding Red.
Do MTR trains run in a typhoon?#
The MTR press release of 15 May 2026 says heavy rail and Light Rail service stays normal at Signals 1 and 3. At Signal 8, service is normal at first, then gradually reduced to a limited level as the storm approaches. MTR gives no clock time. MTR Bus is suspended three hours after Signal 8 is issued.
At Signal 9 or above, MTR suspends all open sections and keeps limited service in underground sections, which may stop at any time without notice. After Signal 9 or 10 is lowered, lines with longer open sections, including the Airport Express, resume only gradually. MTR gives no fixed time.
Do buses, minibuses, trams, ferries and flights run?#
No standing official rule was found for KMB and Citybus buses, green and red minibuses, trams, Star Ferry or other ferries, or for when they resume. Check each operator and the Transport Department before you travel.
One recent notice shows the usual wording. When the Observatory issued Signal 8 at 10:10 p.m. on 25 July 2026, it said people should return home at once, certain public transport would continue for some time, and ferry services may cease at short notice. Its bulletin that day said weather may affect flights and that travellers should contact their airline before leaving for the airport.
Do I have to go to work in a typhoon or rainstorm?#
Not necessarily. The Labour Department's Code of Practice (May 2026 edition, now titled for adverse weather and extreme conditions) says that if Signal 8 or higher, the Black Rainstorm Warning or extreme conditions is in force before working hours, employers should not require general staff to return to the workplace. Employers decide in advance which designated staff must still report. The Code asks employers and employees to agree these arrangements beforehand.
After a Super Typhoon or other large-scale disaster that seriously affects people returning to work, the Government decides whether to announce extreme conditions for the whole territory.
What if the warning comes while I am at work?#
If Pre-No. 8 or Signal 8 is issued during working hours, the Code says staff should be released in batches under arrangements agreed beforehand.
Under Black issued during working hours, the Code says indoor work should generally continue unless the workplace is in danger, but employers should immediately suspend work in outdoor and exposed areas and have staff shelter. If Black is still in force at the end of working hours, employers can release staff where safe or provide a suitable temporary shelter. For Red issued during office hours, the Observatory says indoor staff stay on duty unless it is dangerous.
Will I lose pay or leave if I stay home?#
If an employer arranges that staff need not report, the Code says the employer should not deduct wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, or require make-up hours. An employer cannot cut annual leave, statutory holiday or rest-day entitlements to make up lost hours.
The Code's example is that staff return within 2 hours when a signal is cancelled during working hours; this is an example, not a law. The Code notes that an injury on a direct route to or from work within four hours before or after working hours is treated as arising out of employment when Signal 8 or higher, Red or Black is in force.
Are government offices and registries open?#
Each department sets its own rule. The Immigration Department (page of 4 May 2026) says its offices and the birth, death and marriage registries suspend services while Signal 8 or higher is in force outside office hours, and stay open during office hours until attending people are served. Services generally resume 2 hours after cancellation, stay suspended that day if cancellation falls within 2 hours of closing, and resume at 2:00 p.m. if the 2 hours end in the lunch break.
The Companies Registry and the Police office for the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction publish their own rules. These pages do not cover border control points.
Are schools open in a typhoon?#
Education Bureau Circular No. 5/2022 (issued 7 July 2022, updated April 2026) covers kindergartens and day schools. At Signal 1, all schools operate as usual. At Signal 3, kindergartens and schools for children with physical or intellectual disability suspend classes; other schools operate as usual. At Pre-No. 8 or Signal 8 and above, classes of all schools are suspended.
When Signal 8 or above is replaced by Signal 3, kindergartens and special schools stay suspended. Other schools resume if Signal 3 was issued before 5:30 a.m. (morning and whole-day classes) or 10:30 a.m. (afternoon classes), unless the Bureau announced suspension for the whole day.
Are schools open in a Red or Black rainstorm?#
Under the same circular, schools operate as usual at Amber. If Red or Black is in force at 5:30-6:00 a.m., morning and whole-day classes are suspended all day. At 6:00-8:00 a.m., students need not attend and schools stay open for those who arrive. From 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., those lessons continue. Afternoon classes are suspended if the warning is in force at 10:30-11:00 a.m.; at 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. students need not attend; from 1:00 p.m. all lessons continue.
The circular tells schools to assure parents that absence or lateness will not be penalised if they keep children home.
What happens to public exams?#
The Observatory's advisory page says a public examination session is cancelled if Signal 8 is issued before it starts, and continues if Signal 8 is issued during the session unless the exam centre is dangerous. The Education Bureau circular says class suspension does not by itself postpone a public exam, and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority announces exam arrangements separately.
Are hospitals and clinics open?#
Accident and Emergency departments at public hospitals stayed normal in both Hospital Authority notices we read. Clinics differ. On 18 June 2026, with Black in force, the Authority said Family Medicine Clinics, Specialist Out-patient Clinics, Allied Health Clinics and other ambulatory services were suspended, and told patients to rebook after Black is cancelled. On 26 July 2026, with Signal 8 or above in force, it said Family Medicine Clinics were suspended; that notice did not mention other clinics.
No standing rule covering all clinics was found. The notices were issued for single events, so check the Authority's notice on the day.
Can I go hiking or visit country parks?#
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department hiking guidelines (page dated 29 May 2026) say to check the Observatory's weather before and during a hike, change or cancel plans in bad weather, and avoid hiking when a rainstorm or thunderstorm warning is in force. Typhoons appear only in a list of May to November hazards, with no separate typhoon instruction.
During a Black Rainstorm on 2 August 2025, the department urged the public to avoid country parks because of flash floods and landslides, and said people already inside should leave or find safe shelter.
What about LCSD sports facilities and beaches?#
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department's General Conditions of Use (revised 13 October 2026) say recreation and sports facilities close when Signal 8 is issued and reopen within 2 hours, if the situation allows, after the signal is lowered. The clause does not name pools or parks.
Its beach page (last revised 24 October 2024) says that when the Observatory issues a thunderstorm warning for a region, beaches there give limited lifeguard service, hoist a red flag and ask swimmers to leave the water. It mentions the Amber Rainstorm Warning only together with a thunderstorm warning that names no regions, and does not mention typhoon signals.
What are the public holidays in 2026 and 2027?#
These are the general holidays gazetted under the General Holidays Ordinance, as listed by GovHK. Every Sunday is also a general holiday.
2026: Thu 1 Jan, first day of January; Tue 17 Feb, Lunar New Year's Day; Wed 18 Feb, second day of Lunar New Year; Thu 19 Feb, third day of Lunar New Year; Fri 3 Apr, Good Friday; Sat 4 Apr, the day following Good Friday; Mon 6 Apr, the day following Ching Ming Festival; Tue 7 Apr, the day following Easter Monday; Fri 1 May, Labour Day; Mon 25 May, the day following the Birthday of the Buddha; Fri 19 Jun, Tuen Ng Festival; Wed 1 Jul, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day; Sat 26 Sep, the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival; Thu 1 Oct, National Day; Mon 19 Oct, the day following Chung Yeung Festival; Fri 25 Dec, Christmas Day; Sat 26 Dec, the first weekday after Christmas Day.
2027: Fri 1 Jan, first day of January; Sat 6 Feb, Lunar New Year's Day; Mon 8 Feb, third day of Lunar New Year; Tue 9 Feb, fourth day of Lunar New Year; Fri 26 Mar, Good Friday; Sat 27 Mar, the day following Good Friday; Mon 29 Mar, Easter Monday; Mon 5 Apr, Ching Ming Festival; Sat 1 May, Labour Day; Thu 13 May, the Birthday of the Buddha; Wed 9 Jun, Tuen Ng Festival; Thu 1 Jul, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day; Thu 16 Sep, the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival; Fri 1 Oct, National Day; Fri 8 Oct, Chung Yeung Festival; Sat 25 Dec, Christmas Day; Mon 27 Dec, the first weekday after Christmas Day. In 2027 the fourth day of Lunar New Year is a holiday in substitution, because the second day falls on a Sunday.
General holidays are not the same list as statutory holidays under the Employment Ordinance, which affect pay and leave. The Labour Department lists 15 statutory holidays, with Easter Monday added from 2026. Good Friday becomes statutory from 2028 and the day following Good Friday from 2030. Employers choose either the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day. So some general holidays are not statutory holidays.
What could we not confirm?#
We found no standing official rule, as of 24 October 2026, for these.
Travel: KMB, Citybus, minibuses, trams and ferries at Signal 8 or Black, and when they resume (ask the operator or the Transport Department); border control points (ask the Immigration Department). A Government reply of 1 November 2023 said franchised buses, green minibuses and public water transport are generally suspended at Signal 8 or higher; it is older and only partly confirmed.
Services: General Outpatient Clinics (notices vary; the Specialist Out-patient page is dated July 2019); whether country parks, LCSD parks, pools and libraries close; and any Monday-specific rule.