The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has called off its races on Wednesday due to typhoon Ragasa, while the government’s emergency support centre said it is making “advanced preparation” to brace for the incoming storm.
Happy Valley Racecourse. File photo: GovHK.
The HKJC announced on Sunday that the race meeting at the Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday will be cancelled in light of the Hong Kong Observatory’s forecasts.
“This decision has been made in the interest of public and equine safety, and to support the operational needs of stakeholders across the racing industry,” a statement read.
Storm Ragasa, said to be the strongest typhoon in the northwest Pacific so far this year, is set to bring adverse weather to Hong Kong next week.
The Observatory said on Sunday that typhoon signal no. 1 will be issued at around noon on Monday. The weather will “deteriorate rapidly” on Tuesday, the forecast predicted, with gale to storm force winds prevailing on Wednesday and potentially even reaching hurricane force offshore and on high ground.
Hong Kong is expected to see heavy squally showers and thunderstorms, while seas will be high with swells. The sea level of coastal areas may be similar to those seen during super typhoons Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.
On Sunday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan led a steering committee on handling extreme weather. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), under the Security Bureau, has made “advance preparation and stands ready for activation,” the government said. The team will be activated when the Observatory issues the typhoon signal no. 8 and will conduct city-wide monitoring.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan chaired a meeting of the steering committee on handling extreme weather on September 21, 2025. Photo: GovHK.
The Fire Services Department, the police force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service are also on standby, the government said.
The Drainage Services Department had cleared the drains at around 240 locations which are prone to flooding due to blockages. Last month, the department said sudden drain blockages during rainstorms “cannot be eliminated” despite frequent inspections and cleaning, after multiple parts of the city saw floods and torrential rain last month.
The Education Bureau will make an announcement on Monday regarding school arrangements for Tuesday, the government said.
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