Tropical cyclone Vicente is skirting near the 200km vicinity of Hong Kong, and the city's Observatory has announced that strong wind signal number 8 is likely to be hoisted before 6pm. Most offices and businesses will be closed.
Some flights scheduled to depart the city's airport have been cancelled. They include codeshare service by Dragonair and Cathay Pacific to Shanghai, flight KA 872/CX 6856 (1800), and another to Taipei, flight CX 464/KA 546; Air India's AI 317 to Delhi and Mumbai (1605); and Hong Kong Airlines' flight HX 875 to London Gatwick (2335). A number of other flights have been delayed.
Arrivals have also been affected. Air China has cancelled three flights (CA115, CA117 and CA6525) from Beijing, causing more than 400 passengers to be stranded at Beijing Capital International Airport, said a spokesperson from the airline. Other cancellations include codeshare service by Korean Air and Delta, KE 607/DL 7897 from Incheon.
Air passengers scheduled to depart from or for Hong Kong today are advised to contact their airlines for updates or regularly check Hong Kong International Airport's website www.hongkongairport.com.
Reggie Ho
