A Star Ferry crosses Victoria Harbour, with the Hong Kong skyline blanketed in heavy rain, as severe tropical storm Chaba passes close to Hong Kong on July 1, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Wind Signal 3 on Saturday afternoon to replace the No 8 Gale or Storm Signal as Typhoon Chaba gradually departs from Hong Kong.

The No 3 storm signal, issued at 4:20 pm, means that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 kilometers per hour are expected.

As Chaba departs gradually from Hong Kong, local winds are moderating. However, strong winds are still prevailing over the territory, occasionally reaching gale force offshore and on high ground.

Hong Kong Observatory

In a weather bulletin issued at 3:45 pm Saturday, the observatory said Chaba is expected to move inland and weaken gradually. 

"As Chaba departs gradually from Hong Kong, local winds are moderating. However, strong winds are still prevailing over the territory, occasionally reaching gale force offshore and on high ground," it reads.

The Strong Wind Signal No 3 will remain in force before midnight, the observatory added. 

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The outer rainbands associated with Chaba will still occasionally bring squally showers to Hong Kong. Seas remain rough with swells, according to the forecaster.

"Members of the public are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports," it noted.

According to the Hospital Authority, two men and a woman have been injured during the typhoon as of 4:30 pm Saturday. They have received treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals

The Home Affairs Department said it has opened 25 temporary shelters in various districts and 88 people have sought refuge at the shelters. 

The government has received 44 reports of fallen trees and one report of flooding as of 4 pm Saturday.

The Education Bureau announced that classes of all day schools are suspended Saturday.

All welfare service units of the Social Welfare Department, child care centers, centers providing after school care programs, elderly services centers and day rehabilitation units vocational training centers and day activity centers will not open to the public. 

Chaba, the third typhoon of the year, made landfall in the coastal area of Maoming city in Guangdong povince at around 3 pm Saturday

All hearings of the courts and tribunals, including any admission proceedings, are adjourned Saturday, the Judiciary announced in a statement.

In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority announced that all designated clinics for COVID-19 confirmed cases, general out-patient clinics, specialist out-patient clinics, allied health and other day services will be closed Saturday morning. 

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"Patients, who have scheduled appointments, are advised to make a new appointment after the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No 8, the statement reads.

Specimen collection packs distribution and collection service of specimens for COVID-19 testing at selected general out-patient clinics will also be suspended. Service of Accident and Emergency Department at public hospitals, meanwhile, remains normal.

All Community Vaccination Centres under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will remain closed Saturday. For those with a booking affected by the closure of the CVCs, their booking will be rescheduled to a later date and they will be informed of their new appointment date and time by SMS notification, the government said.

Chaba, the third typhoon of the year, made landfall in the coastal area of Maoming city in south China's Guangdong povince at around 3 pm Saturday. 

The provincial government of Guangdong and another province, Hainan, have upgraded their emergency response level for typhoons to level II, the second-highest, effective Saturday morning.  

The Hainan provincial government said 47 residents have been evacuated out of concern of geological disasters. 

Railway services have been suspended on the island and airports in Haikou and Sanya have canceled over 400 flights. All scenic spots, and maritime entertainment and aerial sightseeing activities in the two cities have also been suspended.  

With Xinhua inputs