Typhoon Season 2013

[chingleutsch]

>>Furthermore, why can't people with desk jobs work from home?<<

This might work for expats and rich folks with big flats, but the average local is living in <400' sq with spouse, kids (also home from school with the typhoon signal up) and probably in-laws. Good luck with getting any work done!

Come to think of it, this could also explain just why so many office workers like to stay late at work whether or not they're actually doing anything constructive - it's quieter there!

[usehername]

Also desk jobs often require access to data and emails held on local servers so unless the company is going to pay for a system that people can access remotely AND pay for all staff to have pcs at home AND ensure they have proper security in place AND can offer IT support to people at home, then working at home isn't really an option.

[Watercooler]

Nice reasoned post.

And, just to put the record straight, I never said "it's a millpond here so it is everywhere" but I responded to about 3 other earlier posts saying "it's fine here"; "it's fine here but it could be worse in the NT".... so being in the NT I supplied the data from here!

Since I live on a boat, and we generally get it worse than most of you living in safe, secure high rises, I tend to err on the side of caution and support the HKO when they make these decisions. I also know exactly how strong it is here because every time a gust of strong wind hits the boat we move! BUT, based on 6 typhoon seasons now, including a T10 and a T9 which damaged the jetty and several boats in the marina, THIS TIME it does seem like a little TOO much caution was in place. So far, nobody (to my knowledge) has said that where they was was really bad DURING THE T8, IN HONG KONG. (sure, you've quoted China and Macau and said a ship went down "off the coast of Lantau ... " without saying how far off the coast). And it was certainly worse weather here in the hours following the T8 and the next night!

I agree with Dengxi - in this day and age, something a little more refined would be helpful with those of us making decisions about whether or not our staff should come into work. Allowing those of us with office staff in a office attached to an MTR station where none drive and only one catches a bus, to perhaps make different decisions to folks with staff working on the outside of a high rise, for example.

Debate is good and healthy. Unfortunately this site seems to be losing it's ability to DEBATE rather than insult.

Umm..no offence, but I guess it never occurred to you that something might happen while those workers are waiting for the bus while exposed to the wind? And do you think buses operate normally during a T8 (if at all)?

[TheBrit]

The typhoon work cancellation system does seem a hangover from the times before a
lot of safety measures - like concreting slopes and improving drainage and runoff - were completed. Plenty of other cities manage to get to work safely in typhoons, and plenty of people in HK manage it too.

[Trance Omega]

Another storm developing but this one wants to go to Taiwan.

[INXS]

Another storm developing but this one wants to go to Taiwan.

If the STR strengthens as expected it will cross through Taiwan and you'll be putting your patio furniture in Virago's garage again...

[Trance Omega]

He has a garage?

[virago]

He has a garage?

I have plenty of room for the BBQ and wine.

Sent from somewhere....

[Trance Omega]

Thought you lived under a bridge....

[INXS]

Virago, living the dream...