XN000022-1992-05-08 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1992

IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, INSOFAR AS WHETHER MORNING SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CLOSED OR

NOT, THE NORMAL ARRANGEMENT IS THE DEADLINE TO BE OBSERVED IS ABOUT 5.15. PASSED THIS DEADLINE THERE IS NO POINT TO ACTIVATE THE NORMAL ARRANGEMENT.

"IT MEANS THAT IF THE DECISION WAS NOT MADE BY 5.15 To 5.30, 1IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH THE FIRST RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT AT 6 O'CLOCK. THE HEAVY RAIN THIS MORNING REALLY STARTED TO FALL ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK, PASSED THE TIME OF THE DEADLINE OF 5.15," HE SAID.

STATEMENT BY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

ON SCHOOLING ARRANGEMENTS IN RAINSTORM

NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS

IN THE EVENT OF TYPHOONS AND HEAVY RAINSTORMS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (ED) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING A TIMELY DECISION ON WHETHER, AND WHEN, SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CLOSED, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.

IF NECESSARY, INFORMATION IS ALSO SOUGHT FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BRANCH OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT REGARDING ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.

BECAUSE MOST PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS OPERATE BISESSIONALLY, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TO ALERT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOT LATER THAN 5.30 PM SO THAT A DECISION CAN BE MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PERSONALLY AS ΤΟ WHETHER AM SESSIONS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS (AND WHOLE-DAY SCHOOLS) SHOULD BE CLOSED, AND THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE MADE OVER THE RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS NOT LATER THAN 6.15 AM BEFORE CHILDREN LEAVE HOME FOR SCHOOL.

SESSIONS HAS TO BE BEEN MADE AWARE

OF

ANY DECISION REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF PM MADE AND ANNOUNCED BEFORE 11 AM. SCHOOLS HAVE THESE ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH A GENERAL SCHOOLS CIRCULAR.

EVENTS ON THE MORNING OF MAY 8

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS NOT ALERTED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE FIRST INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER WAS AN ALERT FROM THE DUTY OFFICER OF THE GIS NEWSROOM CONCERNING A LANDSLIP WARNING ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY. HE RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION AT 6.20 AM.

/AS A