T8 Replaced By T3 As Nangka Moves Away From HK

The Hong Kong Observatory replaced the No 8 signal with Strong Wing Signal No 3 at 7.40pm on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Nangka moved away from the SAR.

As the signal was lowered, The MTR, bus companies and ferries all said they were working to resume normal services.

The observatory has defended its decision to issue the No 8 signal for 14 hours on Tuesday, even though Nangka caused next to no damage to Hong Kong.

The number eight went up at 5.40am, a few hours after the storm reached its closest point to Hong Kong, about 440 kilometres south of the SAR.

Senior scientific officer Woo Wang-chun said it was the first time since the 1960s that the observatory had issued a No 8 signal over a storm that was so far away.

Meteorologists said it was the right move to make, to ensure that people were safe given the weather conditions.

The government said it had received 17 reports of fallen trees, but there were no signs of floods or landslides. The Home Affairs Department said 109 people sought refuge at 22 temporary shelters across Hong Kong.

The Hospital Authority said two men and a woman sought treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period, but did not say whether their injuries were related to the storm.