The Education Bureau has announced that all classes will be suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday because of Super Typhoon Ragasa.

The two-day suspension will affect kindergartens, childcare centres, as well as primary, secondary, special schools and evening schools.

During the class suspension, schools will not accept hard-copy applications for primary one discretionary places. The deadline for submitting paper applications has been extended to September 30.

Day care centres and service units managed by the Social Welfare Department will also close, with its officials advising people not to send children and relatives to its units on Tuesday at all.

The Hospital Authority said accident and emergency services at public hospitals would maintain normal service during the storm.

Outpatient services will be suspended when the No 8 signal or above is issued, and all non-emergency services will also been suspended on Wednesday.

The District Offices’ temporary shelters will open early at 8am on Tuesday, with the offices ready to open individual shelters earlier if necessary.

The offices have also coordinated with departments and institutions to strengthen flood prevention, including laying down sandbags and flood barriers.

The government's steering committee on extreme weather also said it is gearing up to address the expected significant storm surge.

A 24-hour emergency hotline is already up and running for public enquiries.

The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre under the Security Bureau has begun operations more than a day earlier than usual.

Emergency rescue forces, including firefighters, police, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service, are on full standby.

The government is also assessing if civil servants are needed to help clear up the aftermath of the typhoon under the government-wide mobilisation mechanism.

The Civil Service Bureau has reminded all 77 bureaux and departments to stay alert and be ready to deploy emergency teams at any time.