The Hong Kong Observatory issued the amber rainstorm warning on Sunday afternoon as a heavy downpour drenched the city while it marked the Qingming Festival.

The observatory raised the warning at 2:05 pm, an hour after it issued the thunderstorm warning, and reminded members of the public to take precautions against flooding.    

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"The rainstorm warning signal is now amber. This means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimeters in an hour, and is likely to continue," the HKO said.

It said flooding could occur in some low-lying and poorly drained areas in the city and urged the public to stay away from watercourses due to the risk of flash floods.

The Drainage Services Department urged members of the public to report any street flooding while the Labour Department reminded employers and contractors to adopt necessary work arrangements and suitable safety measures to protect their employees during the rainstorm.

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The amber rainstorm warning was eventually canceled at 5:40 pm but the thunderstorm warning was extended until 6:30 pm.

Despite the rainy weather, many Hong Kong residents visited cemeteries on Sunday to sweep the tombs of their ancestors as they marked the Qingming Festival.