Pinoys in HK urged to stay indoors amid Mangkhut threat

Filipinos in Hong Kong were advised to defer their outdoor plans amid the threat of Typhoon Mangkhut, which is expected to hit the area on Sunday after hurtling through the Philippines the previous day.

In an advisory, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong advised Filipinos there to "stay indoors and defer any planned travels or outdoor activities to a later date to avoid threats to personal safety and health and other inconveniences."

Filipinos in Hong Kong were also encouraged to monitor weather bulletins and observe precautions given by local authorities depending on typhoon signal.

The Consulate General said should T8 or T10 be hoisted, the Consulate will be closed.

"All passport appointments and other transactions scheduled tomorrow will be accommodated any time during business hours, 9 am to 4 pm, in the succeeding days," it said.

Should T8 or T10 be hoisted, all scheduled activities in the Consulate, including Idulog Mo Kay Atorni 6 will be cancelled and rescheduled, it added.

There are 227,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, most of them household service workers who usually spend Sunday — their rest day — outdoors. 

Hong Kong has already raised its second highest No. 9 typhoon signal, which is expected to be stepped up within hours as fierce waves pound low-lying areas and strong winds rattle windows in many towering skyscrapers.

In case of emergency, Filipinos in Hong Kong could call 999 or the Consulate Hotline at 9155 4023.

Mangkhut is considered the strongest to hit the region this year, packing gale force winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph), equivalent to a maximum Category 5 "intense hurricane" in the Atlantic.

Mangkhut, the Thai name for Southeast Asia's mangosteen fruit, was expected to skirt 100 km (62 miles) south of Hong Kong and veer west toward the coast of China's Guangdong province, and the gaming center of Macau. —with Reuters/KBK, GMA News