Hong Kong schools, financial markets, and businesses have shut as Typhoon Nesat brought howling winds, squalls of rain and rough seas to the territory.

台风纳莎给香港带来了强风、暴雨和巨浪，其学校、金融市场和商业贸易都已关闭。

The city issued a number eight storm signal before 05:00 on Thursday (21:00GMT on Wednesday).

All ferry services and some bus services have been cancelled and trains are operating at a reduced frequency.

Few people were on the streets, with 100km/h (60mph) winds shredding¹（撕裂） umbrellas and making it hard to walk.

Local radio reported that two people, including a taxi driver, were injured when scaffolding（脚手架） collapsed² onto a taxi.

And a large cargo³ barge⁴ crashed into the seafront after slipping its moorings（停系泊处） , television footage showed. About 50 people had to be evacuated⁵ from a nearby block of flats.

Some flights have been delayed.

Lynn Chan, a lawyer who works in the city's central business district, said she struggled through the wind and rain only to find her office was closed.

"I am the only person here," she said.

"I guess I should have listened to the news before I set out."

At noon local time (04:00 GMT), Typhoon Nesat was 370km (230 miles) southwest of Hong Kong and was moving towards China's Hainan Island.

At least 18 people were killed when the typhoon swept through the Philippines earlier this week.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has shut for the day, with the Hong Kong Observatory⁶ saying the number eight storm signal would be hoisted⁷（升起，举起） for most of Thursday.

Government offices and courts have also closed, delaying the announcement of a landmark⁸ ruling on a closely watched immigration case.