Officials and utility companies appeal for public understanding as they race against time to repair train tracks, ferry piers and power lines while removing 1,500 toppled trees blocking critical transport arteries
Hong Kong is struggling to get back on its feet and facing more days of uncertainty ahead after the monster storm that mauled the city over the weekend left more than 1,000 sections of road blocked by trees or flood debris.
Officials and utility companies appealed for public understanding as they raced against time to repair train tracks, ferry piers, power lines, and 170 sets of damaged traffic lights, while removing some 1,500 toppled trees blocking critical transport arteries.
“Our current goal is to get the clearing-up work done in most main routes by 5am,” transport commissioner Mable Chan said on Monday night, adding that smaller roads and certain routes in the North and Sai Kung districts would take more time.
“We hope to get all the clearing work done in the next one to two days.”
More than 13,500 households and businesses, mainly in the remote, rural areas of New Territories North, Yuen Long and Sai Kung, were still waiting for the restoration of power supplies. Nearly 40,000 customers suffered blackouts and power when the storm struck.
Power utility CLP said access to many of the affected areas was blocked by fallen trees and debris, making repair work extremely difficult.
The Education Bureau decided schools and kindergartens would remain closed on Tuesday.
Open University, Chinese University, Education University, University of Science and Technology, Baptist University and the Vocational Training Council announced they would resume classes on Tuesday. But classes at Shue Yan University were due to resume on Wednesday as access to its Braemar Hill campus remained blocked.
