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No8 storm signal issued as Goni brings wet and wild weather

Severe Tropical Storm Goni came close to Hong Kong overnight and rough weather is forecast to continue today.

The Observatory issued the No8 storm signal at 9.40pm yesterday, by which time the storm was about 100 kilometres west of Hong Kong.

Goni was moving at 10km/h and was forecast to hit the coast to the west of the Pearl River estuary this morning.

Today will be cloudy with heavy rain and squalls. Temperatures will be 25 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Weather in southwestern parts of Hong Kong, including Tuen Mun, Lantau and Cheung Chau, would be most affected by the storm, senior scientific officer Mok Hing-yim said last night.

Form Five pupils expecting their Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations results today were warned to pay attention to weather warnings before venturing out.

Macau's meteorological and geophysical bureau hoisted the No8 storm signal at 7pm.

A worker plunged to death his yesterday while working on a building in Kwun Tong despite the heavy rain and strong wind warning. Mok Siu-chung, 27, climbed outside Yuet Wah House just before noon to remove scaffolding on the eighth floor.

The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims said employers should not ask workers to work in such conditions.

A tree collapsed in Fo Tan Road, Fo Tan, but no one was injured.

Residents of outlying islands started heading home early when ferry operators said services would stop with a No 3 storm signal. Ferry services from Hong Kong to Macau were also disrupted.

Holiday classes at schools were cancelled, as was the Symphony of Lights - the nightly show around Victoria Harbour.

Five flights from Shanghai, one flight from Taipei and another from Beijing were cancelled yesterday.

Another storm, Marakot, was forming in the northwest Pacific, about 1,400 kilometres east-southeast of Keelung, Taiwan, yesterday.

The China Meteorological Administration forecast it would possibly hit eastern China on Saturday.

Marakot would not affect waters off China today or tomorrow.

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