Classes were suspended late last month after the Occupy Central movement mobilized when police tear- gassed and pepper-sprayed protesters on September 28.

Principal Assistant Secretary for Education Sophia Wong Suk-wa advised those taking young children to school to set out much earlier to avoid the morning peak-hour congestion.

"Their parents may prepare more snacks for them. We also told school bus operators to enhance manpower to take care of the kids," Wong added.

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Traffic congestion remained serious yesterday on main thoroughfares on Hong Kong Island on the 11th day of protests.

Assistant Commissioner for Transport Albert Su Yau-on said there were nine tailbacks on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, with a total length of 23.8 kilometers.

The longest of five kilometers extended from the north of Hong Kong Island to the Aberdeen Centre.

"The capacity of the MTR has reached the upper limit. I am afraid if there are any incidents, there is no room to cope with passengers," he said.

Two minor car incidents in the morning worsened the congestion, said police traffic branch acting chief superintendent Lee Kwok-chung.

At 8am a car broke down near Gloucester Road in Wan Chai and it took 30 minutes for the pickup truck to tow it away due to traffic congestion. Five minutes later, on Lung Cheung Road, Kowloon, a taxi collided with a car. Two of the three lanes were cordoned off, and it was 55 minutes before all three were open again.

Chief superintendent Steve Hui Chun-tak said police have deployed negotiators and community relations officers to talk with Occupy protesters about removing barricades to open up roads for vehicles.

Hui added that logistics drivers say Occupy has hit business and so conflicts may arise with more negative sentiment. "Police have suitable plans and [can] deploy there," he said.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Leung Wai-hung said 1,698 calls for assistance were received with services reaching the scene within the pledged time 94.91 percent of the time, with 86 cases delayed. Leung said the longest delay was 41 minutes.

The case involved a person who fell at a school on Macdonnell Road. The ambulance took 52 minutes and 35 seconds to arrive at the scene.