XN000022-1992-05-08 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1992

AS A RESULT, ED STAFF CONTACTED THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY. THE ACTING DIRECTOR, ROYAL OBSERVATORY, PHONED THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION. THE FORMER EXPLAINED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ANTICIPATED THAT THE RAINFALL WOULD BE SO HEAVY AND THAT IT WAS FORECAST THAT FOR THE FOLLOWING HOUR, THE RAIN WOULD EASE OFF SOMEWHAT.

AM AND IT WAS FELT ΤΟ CLOSE THE MORNING 15 MINUTES FOR THE GREATER CHAOS BECAUSE SCHOOL WOULD HAVE TO

BY THAT TIME, IT WAS ALREADY ABOUT 6.45 THAT IF AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AT THAT TIME SESSION (IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE MADE), IT WOULD LEAD TO THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAD ALREADY LEFT HOME FOR RETURN HOME WHEN THEY FOUND THEIR SCHOOL CLOSED. THIS WOULD WORSEN THE ALREADY CONGESTED TRAFFIC SITUATION.

HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE

WITH NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS, INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS THAT WERE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY THE RAINSTORM COULD DECIDE TO CLOSE AND ANNOUNCE THIS THROUGH GIS, KEEPING THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS INFORMED. A TOTAL OF 36 SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED AS A RESULT.

CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS IN THE AFTERNOON

INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AT ABOUT 10.15 AM WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO HEAVY RAIN FOR THE NEXT FOUR HOURS.

HOWEVER, ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED TO BE STILL CHAOTIC AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS FLOODINGS AND LANDSLIPS.

ACCORDINGLY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION DECIDED TO CLOSE THE PM SESSIONS OF ALL SCHOOLS AND A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WAS RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS AT 11 AM.

MADE

OVER

THE

TRAFFIC SITUATION CLOSELY MONITORED

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY IN AN EFFORT INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC FOLLOWING SOME ROAD CLOSURES DOWNPOUR.

THE

TRAFFIC MINIMISE IN A HEAVY

TO

THAT FROM PUBLIC

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TONIGHT (FRIDAY) 7.20 AM THIS MORNING, THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED THAT TRANSPORT HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY FLOODING AND LANDSLIP,

SINCE THEN, THE DEPARTMENT STARTED ADVISING THE PUBLIC THE NEWS MEDIA ABOUT THE EFFECT OF ROAD CONDITIONS, INCLUDING CLOSURES, ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

THROUGH TUNNEL

/THE DEPARTMENT'S