Though Super Typhoon Yagi is not forecast to directly hit Hong Kong, residents on Thursday were still rushing home and snapping up supplies ahead of the storm's arrival.

Yagi is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy downpours to the territory, with the typhoon signal No 8 expected to remain in force until at least noon on Friday.

Some employers had released their staff early to ensure they were safely home before the signal came into effect.

Quality control worker Mo Khalifa, who was making his way home from his office in Pacific Place, said he was able to leave two hours earlier than usual, but that he still needed to rush home to complete some work.

"Basically we have been instructed to leave the office at 4pm. Quite good of course, but a typhoon doesn't mean that we don't do our work from home. We still do it, but from our computer at home."

Meanwhile, Mr Yeung was among many shoppers who were gathering supplies at a supermarket in the mall.

"Because my wife hasn't been released yet, so I need to help her [with the] shopping here. I had to work today but I went out to a meeting and then after the meeting finished, I didn't go back to the office so that's why I came here...to see if there's anything I can grab."

And since the Education Bureau had announced that full-day schools will be closed on Friday, some students said they were happy about their impromptu day off.

But international school pupils Olivia and Sophie said they were a bit sad they will be missing their favourite sports class scheduled for Friday.