The Transport Department on Sunday urged students to allow more time to commute on the opening of the new school term on Monday as it reminded major public transport operators to provide adequate services to meet passenger demand.

In a statement, the department said students should allow more commute time to avoid being late, as overall traffic is expected to be busier on the first school day tomorrow. It also urged motorists to avoid driving to school areas.

"Students should familiarize themselves early with public transport routes to and from their schools and the service frequencies, especially those attending a new school. Those taking ferries should further check their vessel types and journey times,” said a spokesman for the department.

The TD had reminded public transport operators (PTOs) to enhance and deploy standby services and manpower when necessary to meet passenger demand.

Local franchised bus operators providing services connecting land boundary control points (BCPs) and cross-boundary coach operators were also told to provide adequate services for cross-boundary students, while special routes serving school areas will also be resumed.

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The TD said its Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will closely monitor real-time traffic and public transport services in collaboration with police and major PTOs.

Staff will be deployed at major public transport interchanges, stations, school areas, land BCPs and tunnels across the territory for on-site monitoring and, where necessary, service enhancement, the department added.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the city can expect mainly cloudy weather with a few showers on Monday.

The weather forecast showed that there would more showers with thunderstorms in some areas at first, while it would be very hot with sunny periods during the day, the observatory added.