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Hong Kong has been placed under Storm Signal Number 8 Southeast Gale by the Hong Kong Observatory - a department of the Hong Kong government - as a result of the threat of Tropical Storm Nesat hitting the local area.

The tropical cyclone warning means that winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometres per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.

At the port of Hong Kong, bunker deliveries have been halted this afternoon following the weather warning and all terminals closed.

In its latest update at 12:45 local time, the Hong Kong Observatory said: "At 1 p.m., Typhoon Nesat was centred about 390 kilometres southwest of Hong Kong (near 19.7 degrees north 111.7 degrees east) and is forecast to move west-northwest at about 22 kilometres per hour in the general direction of Hainan Island and Leizhou.

"In the past few hours, Nesat has moved west-northwest steadily in the general direction of Hainan Island and Leizhou and moved away from Hong Kong. However, under the influence of the broad circulation of Nesat, gale winds still affect parts of Hong Kong in particular over the western and southern parts of the territory.

"When Nesat moves further away from Hong Kong and the local winds subside later today, the Observatory will consider issuing the number 3 strong wind signal. In the past hour, the maximum gusts recorded at Cheung Chau, Tai Mei Tuk and Star Ferry were 93, 67 and 64 kilometres per hour respectively."

Please find below a summary of Hong Kong's tropical cyclone warning signals

Signal Number 1
Signal Name - Stand-by
Remarks - A tropical cyclone is centred within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may later affect the territory, or there are strong winds in Hong Kong waters.

Signal Number 3
Signal Name - Strong winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 41 - 62 (26-37, Beaufort Force 6-7)
Remarks - Strong winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

Signal Number 8 NE
Signal Name - Gale or storm force winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 63 - 117 (38-73, Beaufort Force 8-11)
Remarks - Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the NE quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

Signal Number 8 NW
Signal Name - Gale or storm force winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 63 - 117 (38-73, Beaufort Force 8-11)
Remarks - Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the NW quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

Signal Number 8 SE
Signal Name - Gale or storm force winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 63 - 117 (38-73, Beaufort Force 8-11)
Remarks - Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the SE quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

Signal Number 8 SW
Signal Name - Gale or storm force winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 63 - 117 (38-73, Beaufort Force 8-11)
Remarks - Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the SW quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

Signal Number 9
Signal Name - Increasing gale or storm force winds
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - 88 - 117, increasing (55-73, Beaufort Force 10-11)
Remarks - Gale or storm force winds are increasing.

Signal Number 10
Signal Name - Typhoon
Sustained Wind Speed (km/hr, (mph, Beaufort scale)) - >118 (74+, Beaufort Force 12)
Remarks - Hurricane force winds. Eye of typhoon may be passing directly over Hong Kong.