Though tropical storms are regarded as "familiar visitors" to Hong Kong residents in the summer season, Friday's tropical storm Kompasu has brought about some unexpected incidents to the city, where at least three people were injured by fallen objects.

Hong Kong Observatory raised strong wind signal No. 8 at 11:45 a.m. to tropical storm Kompasu, a signal that leaves most of Hong Kong residents legally out of their regular work. By 3:00 pm Friday, 10 flights leaving and arriving Hong Kong were delayed.

From morning to 4:00 p.m., the information office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) issued about 50 notices from various government departments about the strong storm.

During the passage of the typhoon, seven arrival and three departure flights were delayed as at 3 p.m..

All of the ferry services have now been suspended, while MTR and KCR lines still maintain limited services.

At about 3:45 p.m., Kowloon Motor Bus Company and some other companies suspended their service of dozens of bus routes and only offered limited service of some bus routes. Trams, cable cars and some out-door elevators have also suspended their operation.

Six cases of fallen trees have so far been reported, but there have been no reports of landslides and flooding.

Hong Kong Police have dispatched more staff members to its three 24-hour-round control centers and emergency hotline 999 is ready to offer help for those in need.

Twenty-eight temporary shelters opened by the Home Affairs Department in various districts have registered 126 users as at 3:30 p.m. The department has begun its preparation for tropical storm disaster relief, including the victim registration, food and relief goods distribution and cash assistance.

Nearly all of the symposiums, large-sized meetings, singing and dancing performances and sports programs have been suspended and most of the shops and departments have suspended their operations.

Hong Kong Observatory warned that the tropical storm will move northwestwards to Guangdong inland areas at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour and the strong winds signal No. 8 will last another few hours.

Hong Kong usually meets with six tropical storms every year and some of them cause disasters to the city. The Hong Kong Observatory earlier forecast that four to six typhoons are expected to hit Hong Kong this summer.

However, some Hong Kong residents and foreign travelers, braving the strong winds and heavy rains, played with sand at beaches, stood in sea waters or surfed in the high waves.

To Hong Kong citizens, additional half-day off is a rare chance for them to have a rest. The coming of tropical storms also became a special occasion for family reunion or gathering of friends.

The mobile communications are busy during the day when family members call on each other to ensure their beloved back home safely, some others would go to restaurants near their residential buildings to have afternoon tea with family members and some elder people would get together to playing poker games.