HONG KONG CHRONICLES — Friday, 1st September 2023
𝗠𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬
The Hong Kong Observatory raised the Typhoon signal №8 early on Friday morning, signalling a mass ‘Work from Home Day’ for all Hong Konger’s — well, except those who opened their shops and the good souls at the refurbished Marks & Spencer in the Kinwick Building.
It’s been a slow day, typhoon-wise, for those of us in the urban areas, while those further north and on the islands have been experiencing flooding, wind and rain. A lamp post was crushed after a tree fell over in Tai Po on Friday afternoon and another tree located near Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School fell over due to the effects of the strong gale. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
However, the weather took a turn for the worse as the afternoon wore on, and the Observatory issued Hurricane Signal No 10 at 8.15 pm this evening, as the eyewall of Super Typhoon Saola passes Hong Kong. A friend in Mui Wo had her window knocked out during the gale this evening.
While it’s not a direct hit, the territory is expect to subjected to a ‘wall of wind’ surrounding the storm centre — where sustained winds are thought to be moving at speeds of up to 210 km per hour.
According to the present forecast track, Saola will skirt around 40 km to the south of the Hong Kong Observatory in the next few hours. The Hurricane Signal, №10 is expected to remain in force for some time.
Earlier, the Airport Authority said at least 360 flights in and out of the SAR from 2 pm on Friday have been cancelled so far, while another 40 have been delayed. Flights are expected to be further cancelled and delayed on Saturday.
The last time the top storm warning was issued was in September 2018 when Super Typhoon Mangkhut passed Hong Kong.
𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗
Animal lovers will be glad to know that the 1.5-metre-long water monitor lizard, named Aberdeen, which went missing a couple of weeks ago from the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden was found on Monday. In fact, the lizard didn’t go far — it was eventually spotted by a visitor to the farm, near its own enclosure
“He appeared a bit dismayed about the sudden end to his adventure but once inside his familiar home seemed content that his walkabout was over,” the farm said.
𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗗
A concert to celebrate National Day that was to feature more than a dozen singing Legco members has been cancelled after some of the star performers pulled out. Yan Chan, Doreen Kong and Aron Kwok were among those headlining the extravaganza planned for September 8th at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
However, organisers decided the show could not go on after Eunice Yung and two of her New People’s Party colleagues dropped out.
Tragedy.
Until next week …
#HongKong #Typhoon #Lostlizard #cancelledconcert #PRinAsiaPacific
