Heavy rain and strong winds lashed the city in the early afternoon as Hong Kong Observatory issued a number three tropical cyclone warning, as winds of up to 70 kilometres (43 miles) an hour hit the territory.

A total of 47 flights in and out of Hong Kong had been cancelled by 4:00 pm (0800 GMT), a Hong Kong Airport Authority spokeswoman told AFP.

Of these, 22 were departures and 25 arrivals, including some flights to and from Taiwan and Singapore. Several ferry journeys between Hong Kong and Macau were also suspended.

At 2:00 pm Typhoon Hagupit was located 290 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong, and was moving at 28 kilometres an hour, the Observatory said.

It was expected to pass the south of Hong Kong overnight before heading towards the south China coast.

The Observatory said a number eight storm signal could be issued by 6:00 pm as the typhoon got closer.

A number eight signal means that all ferry and bus services are shut down, financial markets are closed and people are sent home from work.

Four people were killed and rescuers were searching for 13 miners trapped in a flooded shaft after Hagupit hit the northern Philippines on Monday, officials said.

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