THE recent debate on whether taxi drivers should charge extra during a typhoon and the general criticism of the Royal Observatory received on hoisting tropical typhoon signal No 8 for Typhoon Sibyl on October 3, are getting out of context.
Why does the Royal Observatory get criticised? Sibyl changed course, and this affected the safety of the general public. The observatory was doing its job properly by, in effect, giving us a warning. We can surely all recall the strong winds on Monday night and the downpour on Tuesday morning.
People should remember that a typhoon signal No 8, or above, is a warning telling us that the general weather condition in Hong Kong is in a very unstable state. Anyone who stays out in the streets is putting his own life at risk and putting unnecessary pressure on the emergency services. Regarding the taxi drivers, why do we tempt taxi drivers to risk their lives by offering to pay double the flag fare? Insurance companies do not cover them during typhoons, because it is dangerous out in the street. This is why, when the No 8 comes up, just like everyone else they should be off the streets. If the Royal Observatory could warn the public two hours in advance that the No 8 was being hoisted, then for that two hours, taxi drivers could take people home.
Do we really need another disaster in bad weather, to make people realise that when they stay out after the signal is hoisted, they are putting their lives at risk? SIMON TANG Tai Hang