The Observatory said that Typhoon Matmo is moving away from the city, with local winds expected to weaken on Sunday afternoon.

This easing of conditions will prompt the forecaster to downgrade the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 to the Standby Signal No. 1, once the threat of gales has passed.

"At noon, Typhoon Matmo was estimated to be about 390 kilometers west-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west-northwest at about 22 kilometers per hour towards Leizhou Peninsula," said Shum Chi-tai, acting senior scientific officer at the Observatory.

"Over the past few hours, Matmo moved steadily towards the Leizhou Peninsula and continued to depart from Hong Kong. Local winds started weakening slightly."

The Observatory first issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 12.20pm on Saturday.

As the storm departs, the forecaster is urging the public to remain cautious, advising people to stay away from the shoreline and avoid all water sports due to rough seas.

This warning has been echoed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which has suspended lifesaving services at Trio Beach and Hap Mun Bay Beach in Sai Kung District.

The suspension is a result of lifeguards being unable to reach the beaches by ferry due to rough sea conditions.

Beachgoers are strongly advised not to swim at these locations.