Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who has so far published two social media posts urging the public to stay safe, has been targeted by unhappy online users who questioned his handling of the storm – a stark contrast to a week earlier when officials pulled out all the stops to protect the city against Super Typhoon Saola.

Hong Kong floods: a Post editor’s account of traffic chaos amid monster downpour

Below are live updates:

End of ‘extreme conditions’ warning

The government announced at 9.38pm that the “extreme conditions” warning – which had been in force since 5.30am on Friday morning – would end at midnight on Friday, citing the stabilised weather and improved road situation.

Authorities expected most bus services would resume on Saturday morning, while noting a few roads remained closed for repair.

A government spokesman urged members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid approaching places with risks of landslides.

144 injured since black rainstorm alert issued

As of 8.15pm, 144 people had been sent to hospital since the black rainstorm warning was issued at 11.05pm on Thursday, a government spokesman said.

Officials earlier said four were in serious condition and 35 listed as stable.

According to the spokesman, there were 151 reports of fallen trees, 60 about floods and 33 on landslides.

More than 600mm of rainfall was recorded at the Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui in the 24 hours to 4pm, with the figure exceeding 800mm in Eastern and Southern districts on Hong Kong Island.

Authorities to review way announcements made: John Lee

Asked about criticism that the government responded belatedly, city leader John Lee said all departments had been mobilised as soon as the black rainstorm signal was issued, but authorities would review the way announcements were made to the public during extreme weather.

He said the extensive flooding was caused by the massive amount of rainfall, which was equivalent to 90 days of normal levels, and the downpour had been concentrated in just a few hours.

Lee added forecasting rainstorms was more difficult than typhoons, as while the current system could predict rainfall that exceeded 70mm in the coming hour, it could not determine its duration or how extensive it might be.

“I agree that a review can be done in terms of the warning system. While the room might not be huge under the limitations of technology [in forecasting rainfall], can we disseminate more information in views of boosting the safety factor and considering public preparation?” he said.

‘The damage has been done’

Chief Executive John Lee inspected the site of a landslide at Yiu Tung Estate in Shau Kei Wan at around 6pm, listening to reports from officials on the latest situation at the scene.

But some residents were not impressed.

Johnny Chan Yiu-keung, 66, a tenant of 30 years in Yiu Ming House, said nothing could be done even if the chief executive visited.

“The damage has been done. The government doesn’t even try to comfort the residents who were affected. Officials were just reading a script during the afternoon press conference,” Chan said.

Divers search river for missing man

Fire Services Department divers were searching the Kau To Hang river in Sha Tin on Friday afternoon after receiving a report that a man had been washed away by floods outside a house near Hung Kiu Lane soon after 1am.

According to the department, a fireboat was also deployed to conduct a surface search at Tolo Harbour.

A spokesman said more than 50 firefighters, including personnel from the department’s urban search and rescue team, had joined the operation.

As of 4.30pm, the search was continuing, the spokesman said. Ten fire engines and an ambulance were deployed.

A police spokesman said they did not have any details of the case as of 4.30pm.

Hong Kong leader to inspect housing estate

Chief Executive John Lee will visit Yiu Ming House at Yiu Tung Estate in Shau Kei Wan to inspect the aftermath of the rainstorm at 5.30pm, his first appearance after the flooding. He is also expected to speak to the press.

Lee, who did not attend the press conference earlier, has come under fire from some residents for his administration’s perceived slow response to the downpour.

Amber warning cancelled

The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled the amber rainstorm warning at 4.45pm, just over an hour after downgrading the black alert.

Amber warning issued, replacing longest-ever black alert

The Observatory downgraded the black rainstorm warning signal to amber at 3.40pm.

The city recorded its longest-lasting black rainstorm warning ever, with the highest-level alert issued at 11.05pm on Thursday and staying in force for more than 16 hours. The second-longest black rainstorm warning was in 1999, lasting five hours and 47 minutes.

1 missing and 117 injured, including 4 in serious condition

As of 2.15pm, 117 people had been sent to hospital since the black rainstorm warning was issued at 11.05pm on Thursday, a government spokesman said.

He said the injured consisted of 68 men and 49 women, aged between eight and 94. Four of them were in serious condition, while 32 were listed as stable.

He said the other 50 people had been discharged. The conditions of the remaining 31 were not available.

Security chief Tang said authorities were searching for a missing person who fell into a drainage basin during the rainstorm.

Employers should be ‘flexible’ and consider workers’ safety

No 2 official Eric Chan stressed that there should not be a “one-size-fits-all” policy on work arrangements under extreme weather. Instead, employers should adopt a flexible approach by discussing with workers whether they should head to the office.

“This is not something new in Hong Kong. The established mechanism under typhoons has been running efficiently,” he said.

“Prime considerations should always be given to employees’ safety and whether public transport is available.”

Authorities to make announcement by 10pm on emergency warnings

Chief Secretary Eric Chan said the government would need a bit more time to evaluate how long the extreme weather would persist, saying authorities would have to look into the recovery of the city’s transport system, flooding and landslide situation. Authorities would make an announcement by 10pm on Friday, he added.

“We will make an announcement to cancel the emergency warnings when we find that the overall situation of the city has returned to normal,” he said.

Drainage system questioned

Acting drainage services director Chui Si-kay said the city’s drainage system was functioning normally and designed to cope with “once-in-200-years” rainstorms, amid continued questioning from reporters. But conditions on Thursday night were “very extreme”, with Chai Wan and Tai Tam the areas affected the most seriously, he said.

Widespread flooding was reported across the city, leaving cars submerged as roads turned to rivers.

Acting Observatory director Lee Lap-shun said the rainstorm initially affected the northern part of the New Territories on Thursday night. The weather forecaster then quickly issued warnings to alert residents over the citywide impact, as well as messages about flooding and possible traffic disruptions.

Absence of a timely government response?

Asked why government officials did not offer a quicker response, Chan insisted authorities had worked through the night and issued four statements to keep residents informed.

“The predictability of the rainfall cannot be compared with that of a typhoon,” he said. “We also want to accurately get hold of the situation but it is very hard for us to do so, and so we cannot inform residents earlier.”

He said the downpour escalated rapidly and had exceeded the capabilities of the city’s drainage system.

‘Once-in-500-years’ rainstorm tough to predict

Asked about criticisms of a perceived poor government response, No 2 official Chan stressed the predictability of a “once-in-500-years” rainstorm was “very low” compared with forecasts for typhoons. “[The rainstorm] was so big and so sudden. We could not act like we did in Super Typhoon Saola to issue warnings early,” he said.

Pressed why city leader Lee was absent from the press conference, Chan said: “Throughout the night, the chief executive has been giving us direction and advice to tackle the situation.”

During the pandemic, the government developed a HK$150 million emergency system to warn residents via SMS, which was not used in the rainstorm. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said it was designed for emergencies such as power failures. “With the rainstorm warning, it’s not necessary to use [another alert] to state the obvious.”

No full suspension of work

Asked why the government had not called for suspending work citywide under the extreme weather, labour minister Chris Sun Yuk-han said authorities had already reminded employers not to make obligations for non-essential workers or deduct their salaries.

In explaining the decision, Sun pointed to workers who still had to carry out their duties such as nurses and staff members in care homes for the elderly.

About 300 residents in temporary shelters

The Fire Services Department had received 343 calls for help related to flooding. Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin said they had helped 20 injured people and helped evacuate 110.

Fifteen temporary shelters had been opened as of Friday noon, offering refuge to 325 people who mostly living in North district, Director of Home Affairs Alice Cheung Chiu Hoi-yue said.

She said the government and NGOs would offer emergency support to those in financial need.

Shenzhen discharge ‘did not worsen situation’

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the local authorities received a notice from Shenzhen 45 minutes before the neighbouring city planned to discharge water amid the heavy rainfall.

Protocol revealed by the Security Bureau in 2018 suggested that Shenzhen should give three hours’ notice before such a move, or provide warning as soon as possible under urgent circumstances.

Tang brushed aside suggestions that the mainland city’s move had worsened Hong Kong’s flooding situation, insisting the discharge was a safety measure to protect residents on both sides of the border.

At least 1 drowning reported

Two men died in hospital after being found floating unconscious in Victoria Harbour less than two hours apart, police said.

One of them was an 87-year-old man who was spotted off the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter soon after 10.30am. He was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where he was declared dead at around 11.30am, the force said. A police spokesman said it was suicide.

Shortly before midday, another man was found floating near the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. He was also sent to Ruttonjee Hospital, where he was declared dead at 12.26pm. But the man’s details were not available as of 3pm, police said.

The case was initially classified as “person drowning”, according to the force.

Extreme conditions extended to at least midnight

No 2 official Eric Chan, leading the press conference, said the situation was serious in multiple districts with widespread flooding and heavy disruptions to public transport. The downpour escalated quickly and different departments worked overnight to tackle the situation, he added.

Quarter of annual rainfall recorded

Acting Hong Kong Observatory director Lee Lap-shun said more than 600mm of rainfall was recorded, amounting to a quarter of the city’s total annual level.

Acting drainage services director Chui Si-kay said his department had quickly mobilised its emergency centre, sending teams to handle flooding reports and clear clogged drains. At least 72 teams were dispatched, which would soon be expanded to 144 consisting of more than 500 workers, he said.

The department had confirmed 60 flooding reports as of Friday noon, with 40 being temporarily fixed and work on 13 under way. Flooding was not related to Shenzhen’s discharge of water and was instead caused by the heavy rainfall, Chui said.

Government to ‘streamline’ work arrangements

Chan said the government would study how to streamline the work arrangement mechanism under extreme conditions to give residents more clarity in emergency situations. At 7.30am, the government announced employees should follow arrangements they had previously agreed on with the employers and resume work, or work from home.