Hong Kong parents and students expressed frustration after schools were abruptly closed on Friday (July 11) due to fears of severe thunderstorms—only for the day to turn out mostly sunny, disrupting long-awaited graduation ceremonies and year-end events.
The decision was made on Thursday by the SAR government, which cited safety concerns as Tropical Cyclone Danas' remnants threatened heavy rain and thunderstorms. However, by Friday morning, only Yuen Long recorded light rainfall, while much of the city saw clear skies.
The unexpected turn of weather sparked outrage on social media, with parents flooding the Hong Kong Observatory’s Facebook page to criticize the decision.
Many primary and secondary schools had planned final-day celebrations, including graduation ceremonies for students.
One parent lamented, "My child cried all night after hearing the news—their long-awaited farewell party is gone." Others vented about logistical headaches, with one netizen writing, "I took a day off work for today’s graduation, only to have to request another leave for Monday’s rescheduled event. Why couldn’t they decide this morning when it’s clearly not raining?"
Lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fan acknowledged the backlash but defended the "preemptive" decision, noting the risk of a potential “black rainstorm.” However, he urged authorities to clarify guidelines for future extreme weather responses.
Educator and lawmaker Lawrence Tang Fei supported the move, stating that late-notice cancellations would have caused even greater chaos.
"Even if it didn’t rain today, it’s better than leaving parents scrambling last-minute," he argued.
(Marco Lam)
Read more: Dry day, tough call: HK official defends school shutdown
