Members of the public should avoid heading to public hospitals and clinics on Tuesday afternoon, the Hospital Authority announced on Monday ahead of the issuance of the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8.

All non-emergency services will be halted when the typhoon warning is upgraded to No. 8 at 2.20pm, and operations will only resume after the No. 8 signal is cancelled.

"The HA Major Incident Control Centre will closely monitor the operations of all hospitals and maintain close communication with relevant government departments to ensure public hospital services remain unaffected during adverse weather conditions," a spokesman said.

The HA will notify patients in the coming week to reschedule their appointments.

Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department said residents should not bring their children and family members to care centres even though the facilities will remain open for those in need under the Strong Wind Signal No. 3.

When the No. 8 or a higher signal is issued, "day child care services units, centres providing after-school care programmes, day rehabilitation units, elderly day services centres and SWD welfare services units will not open," the department added.