Tropical storm Pabuk moves toward China, shutting Hong Kong stock market, schools

HONG KONG (AP) - Tropical storm Pabuk edged toward southern China on Friday, bringing strong winds and rain that shut Hong Kong's stock market and schools as it skirted the Chinese-ruled financial center.

Pabuk, named after a large freshwater fish in Laos, had earlier crossed the strait between Taiwan and the Philippines.

It triggered landslides that killed 11 people in the Philippines and disrupted power supplies in southern Taiwan.

The storm then headed west to Hong Kong, passing the former British colony before changing direction sharply to head northeast toward mainland China, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

No casualties or damage were immediately reported, but the Hong Kong Observatory issued a high-level storm warning Friday. The government ordered schools closed, and the local stock market stopped trading just 15 minutes into the afternoon session.