The No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at 6.20pm yesterday (September 5) remains in force.

     The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 30 temporary shelters in various districts and 263 people have sought refuge at the shelters.

     As at 8am today (September 6), the Fire Services Department, the Government's 1823 Call Centre and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department received 36 reports, 10 reports and two reports of fallen trees respectively. The Drainage Services Department received one confirmed case of flooding. No report of landslide has been received so far.

     According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8am today, three people, including two men and one woman, sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Departments at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

     The Transport Department today (September 6) announced that as the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 is now in force, services of the Driving Test Centres, the Written Test Centre, the Driving Test Appointment Office, the Government Vehicle Examination Centres, the Licensing Offices, the Public Vehicles Unit, the Driving-offence Points Office, the Vehicle Inspection and Records Unit and the Cross Boundary Unit will be suspended.

     Driving tests (including road tests and written tests) scheduled at or before 1pm will be cancelled. Candidates will be individually informed of the rescheduled test appointment. If the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 is still in force at 11.30am, all driving tests today will be cancelled. Candidates will be individually informed of the rescheduled test appointment.

     Vehicle examination services for appointments at or before 12.20pm will be cancelled. If the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 is still in force at 11.30am, all vehicle examinations will be cancelled. Members of the public who have made an appointment for vehicle examination services can make a new appointment after the Vehicle Examination Centres reopen.

     Besides, while the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 is in force or within two hours after its cancellation, appointments of driving licence-related services, renewal of vehicle licence, transfer of vehicle ownership, application for a duplicate vehicle registration document/duplicate vehicle licence, an international driving permit, retention, transfer or assignment of vehicle registration mark will be cancelled. Applicants who have made an appointment may proceed to the Licensing Offices to submit their applications during service hours (9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday) on or before September 13 without the need to make another appointment.

TV/Radio Announcers please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is now in force, the Hong Kong Wetland Park is closed. The Park will re-open two hours after the signal is lowered. The Park will remain closed today if the signal No. 8 or above remains hoisted at 2pm. Any person or organisation who has paid a deposit for visiting today can contact the Park's ticket office for refund arrangements or to change the visit date.

     As the Gale or Storm Signal No.8 is now in force, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (September 6) will be cancelled.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     The Government today (September 6) announced that, as the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is now in force, the Children Community Vaccination Centre (CCVC) and Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will remain closed and their vaccination service will be suspended.

     If the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is cancelled before 1pm today, the CCVC and PCVSs will reopen and resume vaccination service two hours after the cancellation and they will operate until the normal closing time.

     Affected persons can make a new vaccination appointment through the booking system on the website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) from the next day of the original booking.