The Labour Department (LD) today (September 17) reminded employers to give due consideration and handle flexibly if employees cannot resume work in time due to road and traffic condition.   

     "As typhoons and rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, employers should not deduct wages or allowances of employees who are absent from or late for work because of inclement weather and traffic condition. Neither should employers dismiss an employee summarily based on these grounds," an LD spokesman said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance.
 
     Employers should not deduct annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days employees are entitled to under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees' failure to report for duty upon the issue of Typhoon Signal No. 8 or the announcement of a Black Rainstorm Warning. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution.
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to maintain a safe workplace for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     Under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for death or injury incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force.
 
     To provide practical guidelines and samples of work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees, the LD has issued the booklet "Code of Practice in times of Typhoons and Rainstorms". The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf). 

     The Transport Department (TD) today (Septemeber 17) announced that after site inspections this morning, it is observed that most driving test routes have been severely affected.  After assessment, it is decided that most of the road tests scheduled for today will be cancelled, except for the following three centres:

Siu Lek Yuen Driving Test Centre
Chung Yee Street Driving Test Centre
Sheung On Driving Test Centre

     The Driving Test Appointment Office (DTAO) will contact the affected candidates as soon as possible to reschedule the tests.  For any enquiry, please contact DTAO at 2771 7723.  Candidates who are scheduled to attend road tests at the above three centres today can also contact the DTAO to reschedule the tests if they cannot attend the test due to traffic reasons.

      As road transport has not resumed normal yet, the opening hours of Post Offices, collection and delivery services, outbound services today (September 17) will be affected. Sales arrangement of new stamp issue of  "The HK Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link" is extended to tomorrow. Details will be announced later. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

     Although Typhoon Mangkhut already landed in the Guangdong Province and wind is easing off in Hong Kong, the massive typhoon has brought severe damage to various parts of the public transport network and facilities (particularly roads and piers). The relevant government departments and public transport operators are working in full steam, including repairing road surface and traffic lights, clearing blocked roads, etc., so as to restore the public transport services as quick as possible.

     A government spokesman today (September 17) reminded members of the public to pay attention to the road conditions and the latest arrangements for public transport services and allow more time for travel. Motorists especially private car drivers and commercial vehicle drivers are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and drive carefully to ensure safety. On public transport services, franchised bus companies have already accorded priority to provide feeder bus services to MTR stations.

     As at 7.30am today, the updated transport service arrangements are as follows:

I) Limited services being provided by MTR:

     Tsuen Wan Line 8-minute intervals
     Kwun Tong Line 8-minute intervals
     Island Line Normal frequency
     South Island Line Normal frequency
     Tseung Kwan O Line
     North Point Station – Po Lam Station Normal frequency
     Tiu Keng Leng Station – LOHAS Park Station Normal frequency
     Tung Chung Line
     Hong Kong Station – Tung Chung Station Normal frequency
     Disneyland Resort Line Normal frequency
     Airport Express Normal frequency
     East Rail Line
     Hung Hom Station – Sha Tin Station   10-minute intervals
     Sha Tin Station – Tai Po Market Station  15-minute intervals
     Sheung Shui Station – Lok Ma Chau Station  15-minute intervals
     Sheung Shui Station – Lo Wu Station   10-minute intervals
     West Rail Line  Normal frequency
     Ma On Shan Line Normal frequency
     Light Rail  Limited Service
     MTR Bus   Limited service

II) Franchised Bus Services:

     1. NWFB/CTB: Due to obstacles on roads, the service of NWFB & CTB daytime routes are suspended, except the following routes:
     i) NWFB: 82M;
     ii) CTB: 48,70,72,72A,75,78,90,592,S1,S56

     2. KMB: the service of daytime routes are suspended, except the following routes: 6,59M,60M,68M,71A,238M,904,K12,K14,K17,K18

     3. LWB: the service of daytime routes are suspended, except the following routes: S1,S64

     4. NLB:
     (a) Routes 37,37H,37M, 38 have gradually resumed normal,
     (b) Routes 1,2,3,4,11,21,23,34,36,A35,B2,B2P are still suspended;

III) Ferry Services

The following ferry services will resume shortly:

     i) Inner Harbour Routes
     1. Coral Sea (Kwun Tong- Sai Wan Ho): gradually resume service at 6:48am
     2. Coral Sea (Sai Wan Ho – Sam Ka Tsuen): gradually resume service at 7:00am
     3. Star Ferry (Central –Tsim Sha Tsui): gradually resume service at 6:30am
     4. Star Ferry (Wan Chai– Tsim Sha Tsui): gradually resume service at 7:20am

     ii) Outlying Islands Routes
     1. New World First Ferry (Cheung Chau – Central): gradually resume service at 7:00am
     2. Tsui Wah (Aberdeen – Yung Shue Wan): gradually resume service at 7:20am
     3. Discovery Bay Ferry (Discovery Bay – Central): gradually resume service at 7:15am
     4. Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (Sok Kwu Wan – Central): gradually resume service at 8:00am
     5. Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (Yung Shue Wan – Central): gradually resume service at 7:20am
     6. Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (Peng Chau – Central): gradually resume service at 7:25am
     7. Park Island Ferry (Ma Wan – Central): gradually resume service at 7:00am
     8. Park Island Ferry (Ma Wan – Tsuen Wan): gradually resume service at 10:15am

     The following ferry services will resume later today:

     i) Outlying Islands Routes
     1. Tsui Wah (Aberdeen – Cheung Chau)
     2. Chuen Kee Ferry (Aberdeen – Sok Kwu Wan)
     3. Peng Chau Kaito (Discovery Bay – Mui Wo)

     Due to damage of some ferry piers, the following seven ferry services will be suspended for a longer period after typhoon signal has been lowered to No. 3:

     i) Inner Harbour Routes

     1. New World First Ferry (North Point – Hung Hom)
     2. New World First Ferry (North Point – Kowloon City)
     3. Fortune Ferry (North Point – Kwun Tong)

     ii) Outlying Islands Routes
     1. New World First Ferry (Central – Mui Wo)
     2. New World First Ferry (Peng Chau – Mui Wo – Chi Ma Wan – Cheung Chau)
     3. Fortune Ferry (Tuen Mun – Tung Chung – Sha Lo Wan – Tai O)
     4. Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (Special Departures of Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau)

      "We hope the community understands and be patient. It inevitably takes some time for public transport service to resume normal. The government departments will continue its efforts and will keep the public and the media informed of the latest situation," the Government spokesman said. "Also, members of the public will no doubt be affected during the start of the working day. The Government urges employers to be considerate and exercise flexibility in light of the difficulty faced by employees to go to work under such circumstances."

Owing to the Strong Wind Signal No. 3, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (September 17) will be cancelled.