Tropical storm Pabuk landed in Hong Kong Friday afternoon, according to China Meteorological Administration.

Pabuk made a landfall at about 4:00 PM, packing up wind of 20 meters per second, and was moving toward northeast while abating, the administration said on its website.

Weather forecast from Guangzhou Observatory in south China's Guangdong Province said early Friday that the storm would fade away in 24 hours after the landing, bringing gales and heavy rain to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued Tropical Cyclone alarms Friday afternoon, warning of the imminent arrival of the tropical storm as well as heavy rain and squall.

Classes of all schools in Hong Kong have been suspended. The schools are asked to keep their premises open and look after students who have already arrived and ensure conditions are safe before students return home.

Trading in the Hong Kong stock market had also been suspended after the cyclone warning was issued.

Pabuk, lingering in the South China Sea for a long time, regained force to become a tropical storm as of Friday after it previously weakened into a tropical depression on Wednesday.

Pabuk did not make a landfall in Shantou, Guangdong Province, on Wednesday evening as forecast.

Meanwhile, the eighth tropical storm of this year Wutip, which means butterfly, is forecast to hit Fujian Province in east China Friday with more powerful impact.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2007)