Source: South China Morning Post; Bloomberg; CNA; CNBC
Date: 2nd November 2022
– Classes, ferry services suspended, but key financial summit will still proceed.
– Observatory says No 8 alert will remain in force before 6pm.
The Hong Kong Observatory on Wednesday issued the No 8 typhoon warning signal at 1.40pm as Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae neared, with the November alert a first in 50 years for the city.
While classes and ferry services were suspended, the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, a much-awaited mega gathering of banking heavyweights, pressed ahead despite the bad weather.
Services operated by Sun Ferry to outlying islands were halted earlier in the morning, while Star Ferry will suspend its two routes from Central and Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui at 2.40pm.
MTR services could be gradually reduced with the approach of the storm, with additional manpower deployed to facilitate train services and help passengers. Citybus and New World First Bus will maintain normal operations and strengthen services to facilitate commuters leaving work.
Nalgae is the third No 8 typhoon in history to hit Hong Kong in November, after two such storms in 1954 and 1972. The last time a warning signal was issued in the month was on November 1, 2018, when Tropical Cyclone Yutu prompted a No 3 alert.
At 2pm, Nalgae, which means wings in Korean, was centred about 170km south-southeast of Hong Kong and forecast to move northwest at about 10km/h, edging closer to the western part of the Pearl River Delta.
The signal will remain in force before 6pm, with more frequent showers expected, according to the Observatory. “Whether the signal is maintained thereafter depends on the degree of weakening of Nalgae and its distance from Hong Kong,” it added.