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Typhoon Imbudo has made a relatively uneventful visit to Hong Kong despite the issuing of No.8 Gale or Storm Signal, which is normally issued only with mean wind speeds of 63 kilometres per hour.

The No. 8 Signal was replaced by the Strong Wind Signal No.3 at 8.15 am as the storm moved further away from Hong Kong.

All whole-day and AM schools will be suspended.

The Social Welfare Department said all its welfare service units, child care centres, elderly services centres and day rehabilitation units, including sheltered workshops and day activity centres will not open today. When the Signal No. 8 is lowered to No. 3, the units will resume normal operation two hours thereafter, weather and other conditions permitting.

As of 8 am, 71 cases of fallen trees have been reported.

Apart from a few temporary obstructions caused by fallen trees, most road networks were generally unaffected by the typhoon.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, 8 arrival and 9 departure flights were delayed, 15 arrival and 21 departure flights were cancelled and 2 arrival flights diverted. But the Airport Express and Tung Chung Line rail services have resumed normal operation.

The Buildings Department has received 27 emergency calls concerning dangerous signboards, fallen building concrete or plaster, as well as loose drying and flower racks. Inspectors have dealt with 26 of the calls, with the remaining 1 awaiting action.

The 28 temporary shelters opened by the Home Affairs Department in various districts have registered 145 users as of 8:15 am.

End/Thursday, July 24, 2003

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