Heavy rain puts Hong Kong on hold

HONG KONG - Hong Kong had been affected by heavy rain on Wednesday morning, with more than 20 cases of flooding reported, and schools and public services on halt.

The city's observatory issued black rainstorm warning at around 4 am local time which had been in force for over five hours. More than 150 mm of rainfall were recorded over many parts of the territory. A total of 24 cases of flooding and seven landslides were reported.

As heavy rains disrupted public transportation, the education bureau announced a suspension of all day schools. Public services, such as judiciary courts, deaths and marriage registries, general out-patient and specialist clinics and a number of government offices were temporarily closed. Local stock market suspended its morning trade.

The observatory forecast that the city will continue to be affected by heavy rain and thunderstorms as a trough of low pressure is lingering around the coastal areas of the nearby Guangdong province.