Heung Yuen Wai Highway flooded

Heung Yuen Wai Highway near Sha Tau Kok was flooded amid heavy rainfall this afternoon. 

The observatory issued a special flooding announcement for northern New Territories at 4pm, saying Ta Kwu Ling and Sha Tau Kok received heavy rainfall of more than 70 millimeters. It canceled the warning at 6.20pm. 

So far this year, eight such reports were issued and they spanned nine days – the highest number in two decades. 

However, Secretary for Environment Wong Kam-sing reassured that severe flooding like those in Zhengzhou province on the mainland is unlikely to happen in Hong Kong.  

In Zhengzhou,flooding of underground railway led to heavy casualties.

Wong said Hong Kong has a significantly different terrain from Zhengzhou.

As a coastal city, Hong Kong can see rainwater drain to ocean in a few hours.  Even extreme rainfalls are unlikely to trigger severe flooding lasting days.

”The Drainage Services Department is carrying out nine drainage projects. Another 19 are being planned, including Drainage Improvement Works in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yuen Long Barrage Scheme and drainage improvement works in many districts," said Wong.

He added that for four flooding blackspots, drainage improvement at Pok Fu Lam has already started and is expected to complete in 2024. The remaining three at Shek Wu Wai, Lam Tsuen Valley Basin, and Chatham Rd South are under planning.