Hong Kong government’s response to 16-hour black rainstorm deemed ‘too little, too late’ as critics urge full review of emergency system

Public and lawmakers attack government handling of crisis caused by ‘once-in-500-years’ rainstorm that paralysed parts of city

Lawmakers and analysts say review of emergency capability needed and that administration would have no excuses for being caught off guard again

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People queue at a bus stop as a road in Choi Hung turns into a torrent. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 9:00am, 9 Sep 2023Updated: 2:42pm, 9 Sep 2023

Hong Kong authorities’ response to the record-breaking rainfall was “too little, too late”, observers said as government insiders revealed to the Post how key decisions were made in the critical hours overnight into Friday morning as torrential rains unleashed chaos on the city.

Lawmakers and analysts urged the government to carry out a review of its emergency capabilities and said the administration would have no excuses for being caught off guard again by extreme weather.

The arrival of what was called a “once-in-500-years” rainstorm brought Hong Kong to a standstill, with more than 140 people treated in hospital as a result of the wild weather, streets turned into gushing streams and businesses left with millions of dollars worth of damaged property and equipment.

Members of the public affected by floods and traffic disruptions expressed frustration over the government’s delayed response and dissemination of information, especially as the rain hit less than a week after officials credited cross-department collaboration for minimising the effects of Super Typhoon Saola.

A car is engulfed by floodwaters in Chai Wan as the city experiences its heaviest rainfall since records began. Photo: Dickson Lee

The skies opened up to lash the city just before midnight on Thursday and triggered the highest-level black rainstorm warning signal, which lasted more than 16 hours – the longest on record.

It took less than two hours for the Hong Kong Observatory to upgrade its warning from amber to black.

Hong Kong government’s response to 16-hour black rainstorm deemed ‘too little, too late’ as critics urge full review of emergency system

Public and lawmakers attack government handling of crisis caused by ‘once-in-500-years’ rainstorm that paralysed parts of city Lawmakers and analysts say review of emergency capability needed and that administration would have no excuses for being caught off guard again

Public and lawmakers attack government handling of crisis caused by ‘once-in-500-years’ rainstorm that paralysed parts of city

Lawmakers and analysts say review of emergency capability needed and that administration would have no excuses for being caught off guard again