The territory hoisted its No. 8 signal - the first there this year - on Aug 10 after Typhoon Pabuk U-turned and passed across the city.

The signal led to the early closure of the stock market, government offices and businesses. Tens of thousands of workers scrambled to get home, resulting in chaos at train stations, bus stops and ferry terminals.

Mr Lam Chiu Ying, director of the HKO, which issues the warnings, said rules for dealing with severe weather were outdated and many workers could have remained in their offices as no law insists business must cease, and most people do not need to catch ferries.

Mr Lam said that responding to a No. 8 by shutting down the city originated at a time when there were no road or rail links between Hong Kong island and Kowloon and the city had many substandard buildings.

Pabuk caused only minor damage to the city and no flights were cancelled. The central business district endured only minor rains and winds.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE