Typhoon Signal 8 and Working Days in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the few places where the weather can change whether a day counts as a working day. When Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 (T8) is hoisted, courts close, government offices shut, and most offices send staff home. The same applies during a Black Rainstorm Warning issued before office hours.

Signal 8 is raised roughly 3–4 times per year on average, typically between June and October. If a deadline falls during typhoon season, it is worth knowing how these signals affect your calculations.

What happens when T8 is hoisted

Courts and tribunals

The Judiciary has specific timing rules:

When a Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement is issued between 6:00 am and 8:45 am, morning hearings are adjourned until further notice.

Document filing: Any documents filed electronically via iCMS during a registry closure period are deemed to have been received when the registry reopens. This effectively extends filing deadlines.

Government offices

Government offices close when T8 is in force. Non-essential staff are not required to report. If the signal is lowered less than 3 hours before the end of working hours, non-essential staff are still not required to come in.

Private sector

There is no law requiring private employers to close during T8, but the Labour Department's Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and "Extreme Conditions" provides strong guidance:

• Employers should make prior work arrangements covering reporting, release, resumption, and wages
• Only staff whose services are absolutely essential should be required to work
• Employee safety must be prioritised

Black Rainstorm Warning: different rules

The Black Rainstorm Warning has different effects depending on when it is issued:

Before office hours (6:00–9:00 am):

• Employers should not require employees to report unless prior agreement exists
• Court registries and offices close
• Same practical effect as T8

During office hours:

• Employees working indoors should continue to work as usual (unless dangerous)
• Employees working outdoors should suspend duties and take shelter
• Court registries and offices remain open

This distinction is important for deadline calculations: a Black Rainstorm Warning issued at 10 am on a Tuesday does not close the courts, but one issued at 7 am does.

Wage implications

The Labour Department's guidance on wages during adverse weather:

• Employers are strongly advised not to deduct wages for absence or lateness caused by inclement weather
• It is unlawful under the Employment Ordinance to reduce annual leave, statutory holidays, or rest days to compensate for lost working hours during T8
• Under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable for compensation for injuries or deaths during commuting within 4 hours before or after working hours when T8 or Red/Black Rainstorm Warning is in effect

There is no specific law mandating full pay for typhoon days — this is handled through prior work arrangements between employer and employee.

How T8 affects working-day calculations

In Hong Kong conveyancing and some commercial contracts, the definition of "working day" explicitly excludes days when T8 or above is hoisted, or when a Black Rainstorm Warning is in effect before office hours.

This means a T8 day during a working-day countdown effectively pauses the clock — the count resumes on the next clear working day.

For calendar-day deadlines (employment notice, stamp duty, MPF), typhoon days are not excluded. The clock keeps running regardless of weather.

Planning around typhoon season

Typhoon season in Hong Kong typically runs from June to October, with peak activity in August and September.

For deadlines that fall in this window:

1. Build in a buffer of 1–2 extra working days where the deadline type allows it
2. Confirm whether the governing rule treats T8 days as non-working
3. If the deadline is calendar-day based, weather does not affect the count — plan accordingly
4. Monitor the Hong Kong Observatory for tropical cyclone updates during critical periods

Where the calculator helps

The HK calculator uses the gazetted holiday list for working-day calculations. While it does not predict future typhoon days (no one can), it helps you build accurate baseline counts that you can adjust if a T8 signal is hoisted during your deadline window.

For calculator details, see the Info Guide.

Official sources

• Judiciary: Typhoon and Rainstorm Warning Arrangements
• Labour Department: Work Arrangements in Times of Adverse Weather
• Labour Department: Code of Practice (PDF)
• Hong Kong Observatory: Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals