Strong storm disrupts Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s morning session

Beijing, Jun 28 (EFE).- The Hong Kong stock exchange was forced to suspend its morning session on Monday after the city’s weather agency issued a Black Rainstorm Warning due to a strong storm, according to a statement issued by the exchange.

Hong Kong’s first Black warning, the highest, of 2021 was issued at 8.20 am and if extended, trading was to remain suspended for the afternoon session.

However, the Black warning was replaced by a lower Red warning at 11.05am, followed by an Amber warning, and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) confirmed that trading in its securities and derivatives markets would resume at 1.30 pm.

The Hong Kong Observatory warned that heavy rain could cause flash floods and urged people to stay inside and away from watercourses.

It said over 70 millimeters of rainfall were recorded in many places in the morning, with more than 150 millimeters over Hong Kong Island West, Lantau and Lamma islands, according to public broadcaster RTHK.

“The thundery activities were rather active this morning, more than 3,000 strokes of cloud to ground lightening were recorded within Hong Kong,” said Senior Scientific Officer Lin Ping-wah in the report, adding that heavy rain would still affect the territory for some time.

Vaccinations were also suspended, schools were closed and all hearings of courts and tribunals were adjourned, with court and tribunal registries and offices closed following the issuance of the Black warning, reported. EFE

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