Changing up the school uniform, a healthy diet, and other ways HK students should prepare for cold weather
Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days as students return after Christmas
You should keep an eye on the weather forecast and wear warm clothing. Students are braving the chilly weather as schools reopen after the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) expects temperatures to hover between 14 and 17 degrees Celsius tomorrow, and had issused a Cold Weather Warning today. Further, not only are the temperatures expected to rise over the next few days, the Observatory also predicts some rain today.
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health advises the public to take note of the weather forecast and wear warm clothing, including hats, scarves and gloves, if necessary.
The centre also said people should eat well, perform regular exercise to facilitate blood circulation, and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure. They should also use heaters with care and maintain adequate indoor ventilation. The centre advised those feeling unwell to seek medical treatment.
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Schools have also taken measures to protect students from the wintry weather. A teacher at Hotung Secondary School, a girls’ school in Causeway Bay, told Young Post students may wear trousers instead of the skirt – the school uniform – during cold weather. St Stephen’s Church College, a co-educational school on Pok Fu Lam Road, has introduced similar measures.
A spokesman for the school said students should wear coats, gloves and scarves during cold weather, and swap skirts for trousers depending on personal needs.
In a written reply, the co-ed Buddhist Wong Fung Ling College said its policy is to allow scarves and for female students to wear winter sports uniforms when the temperature dips below 15 degrees.
Not every school has cold weather measures enforced, however, and Laura Elizabeth Johnson of YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College said: “My school has not changed any of the uniform policies. No outside jackets for us, unfortunately.”
Edited by M. J. Premaratne