HONG KONG, Aug 22 – Hong Kong was buffeted by gale force winds on Friday as typhoon Nuri churned toward the major financial hub, with most of the city and its markets shut down in anticipation of a direct hit.

The tropical cyclone signal No. 9 was hoisted before 2 pm Hong Kong time (0700 GMT) as typhoon Nuri closed to within 60 kilometers of the city after wreaking a path of destruction in the northern Philippines.