HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU (BLOOMBERG, XINHUA) - Hong Kong lowered its typhoon warning signal before cancelling it as the city's strongest storm this year moved away from the city, allowing businesses to reopen and stock trading to start.
The city's observatory issued the advisory at 1.20pm local time, after earlier raising it to as high as the second-gravest No 9 signal, according to a statement on its website.
Most businesses close and public transport becomes limited when the No 8 signal or above is in place.
Under stock exchange rules, trading in the $5.8 trillion (S$7.9 trillion) equity market could resume at the delayed time of 1.30pm after the morning session was scrapped.
The shutdown came as city faced its toughest social distancing restrictions so far due to a flare up of coronavirus cases, with restaurants forced to stop dine-in services at 6pm, public gatherings of more than two people banned and school lessons taking place online.
At 11am, Typhoon Higos was centred about 150km west of Hong Kong's observatory and is forecast to move northwest or west-northwest at about 25kph inland and weaken gradually, the observatory said.
As of 5am, authorities had received nine reports of fallen trees, and one flood report, while two people were injured and sought treatment at hospital, local media RTHK reported.
In 2018, the city raised the maximum No 10 signal when Typhoon Mangkhut left the city with roads blocked, buildings damaged and low-lying areas flooded.
Meanwhile, local authorities in China's Guangdong Province said Typhoon Higos made landfall in the city of Zhuhai with a maximum wind force of 35 metres per second.
The tropical cyclone - the seventh formed in the pacific this year - landed in the coastal area of Jinwan District at around 6am.
It is expected to make its landfall in the coastal areas between Jiangmen and Zhanjiang cities in western Guangdong on Tuesday night.
Ferry service across the Qiongzhou Strait between Hainan and Guangdong provinces would be suspended as provincial authorities urged drivers to plan their departure times to avoid delays, China Daily reported.
Coastal cities and counties in the region are experiencing heavy rains and rain.
The Guangdong government has ordered local authorities in affected areas to introduce measures to protect the lives and property of residents and minimise economic losses, according to China Daily.
Tourists in the west coast must evacuate to safe areas before Higos arrives, the notice said.
Major construction works have been ordered to stop while fishing boats were told to seek shelter.
