Passersby walk in the rain brought by tropical storm Kammuri in Hong Kong, south China, August 6, 2008. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal on Wednesday morning as the tropical storm Kammuri was edging close to Hong Kong. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri passed Hong Kong Wednesday afternoon after pounding heavy rains, halting traffic and forcing the closure of stock markets in the city.

    The Hong Kong Observatory lowered its No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 17:15 (0915 GMT)

    Public transport companies are gradually resuming their services.

    As of 17:00 (0900 GMT), three cases of flooding and one case of landslide occurred on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon but without injuries.

    The strong gales brought by tropical storm Kammuri incurred nine reports of collapsed scaffoldings and one report of fallen windows, with no injuries, according to the Buildings Department.

    Citizens called in the Leisure and Cultural Services Departmentto report 35 cases of fallen trees, which brought to 22 cases of full or partial road closure.

    Hong Kong airport resumed operation as of 20:00 (1200 GMT) as more than 200 flights of different airways had been canceled or delayed by the tropical storm due to a temporary closure.

    Hong Kong MTR, the subway and railway company, has decided to opened its express service connecting the Hong Kong Island with the airport to help transport hundreds of stranded passengers at the airport.

    Most of the ferries leading to some of the far-fetched islands, the neighboring Macao as well as some cities in the Chinese mainland were also canceled.. Most of the bus transport in the city was suspended and limited operation was reopened after the tropical storm moved away from Hong Kong Wednesday night.

    Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) had to close the entire day's trading sessions of both the securities and derivatives markets after the issuance of Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 by the Hong Kong Observatory.

Tropical storm Kammuri makes landfall in south China

    GUANGZHOU, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kammuri, the ninth tropical storm of the year, on Wednesday hit south China's Guangdong Province from Yangxi on its coast at 7:45 p.m., according to the local observatory.

    When it made landfall from Xitou Town, Yangxi County, it produced 10-force winds at the central area and moved inland at 90km per hour, said the Guangdong Provincial Weather Observatory. Full story

Tropical storm Kammuri edges closer to Hong Kong

Passersby walk in the rain brought by tropical storm Kammuri in Hong Kong, south China, August 6, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal on Wednesday morning as the tropical storm Kammuri edging close to the southern Chinese city.

    According to the Hong Kong Observatory, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Kammuri was centered about 140 kilometers south-southwest of Hong Kong near 21.1 degrees north, 113.8 degrees east. It was forecast to move west-northwest at a speed of 14 kilometers per hour towards Guangdong Province, edging close to Hong Kong. Full story