Tropical storm disrupts travel, courts and schools

Stormy setback: People using umbrellas and raincoats to protect themselves from the rain in Hong Kong, after Podul weakened to a severe tropical storm. — AFP

TROPICAL storm Podul dumped torrential rain on southern China, still reeling from record downpours last week, and disrupted hospitals, schools and law courts in Hong Kong after tearing through Taiwan and leaving 143 people injured.

The hearing of Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai was cancelled yesterday after authorities put in place their highest-level “black” rainstorm warning.