Hong Kong braces as tropical storm approaches

Two typhoons and a tropical storm were swirling around the coasts of China and Japan today with Hong Kong preparing to batten down for strong winds and rain.

Severe Tropical Storm Linfa, packing maximum wind speeds of up to 110 kilometres (68 miles) per hour near its centre, was around 130 kilometres northeast of Hong Kong by late afternoon Thursday and was set to hit overnight.

The stronger Severe Typhoon Chan-hom, with maximum winds of 155 kilometres per hour, was hurtling towards the northern coast of Taiwan Thursday and was expected to make landfall in eastern China Saturday, near the coastal cities of Wenzhou and Taizhou.

A third typhoon, Nangka, currently in the Pacific Ocean north of Guam, was heading towards the southeastern coast of Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, but was not due to make landfall in the next five days.

The Hong Kong Observatory raised its "T8" storm signal -- its third-highest -- late Thursday afternoon with hundreds of office workers heading home to avoid the storm.

Kindergartens were shut in the morning with container ports closed from the early afternoon.

Authorities also closed off a popular seaside promenade overlooking the city's famous Victoria Harbour and skyline as tourists grappled with umbrellas in the wind.

The Hong Kong Airport Authority said over 500 flights would be affected by the storm but that so far there have been no cancellations.

"We will implement flight rescheduling... From 7 pm to 6 am tomorrow involving 520 flights to and from Hong Kong," an airport authority spokesman told AFP.

Television images showed powerful waves hitting the coast of cities on the eastern coast of Guangdong, a Chinese province, as the storm passed over en route to Hong Kong.

Linfa made landfall at Guandong's Jiazi Harbour Thursday afternoon.