Saturday's squalls saw more than 145mm of rain dumped on Hong Kong from 8 to 9am, the highest hourly rainfall since records began, the Hong Kong Observatory says.

From midnight until 6pm June 7, 304.8mm of rain fell at the Observatory, the 5th highest daily rainfall recorded in June. About 200mm were recorded generally over Hong Kong with Lantau Island and urban areas exceeding 300mm.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the amber rainstorm warning at 5.15am and replaced it with the red one at 5.55am. The black one was issued at 6.40am and was replaced with the red and the amber ones at 11am and 11.30am. The amber one was cancelled at 1.30pm.

Up to 7pm today 539 flooding reports were recorded - 240 on Hong Kong Island, 220 in Kowloon and 79 in the New Territories. The most seriously affected areas were Wan Chai, Sheung Wan and north Lantau Island.

Director of Drainage Services Lau Ka-keung said 32 teams comprising 200 staff and contractors were deployed to flooding spots to clear blocked drains and gullies. In Sheung Wan an emergency team was sent at 6am to remove rubbish at drainage inlets and to clear blocked drains. An SMS was sent at 5.22am to subscribers of the Sheung Wan Flood Watch service to remind them to take precautionary measures against flood damage.

The Home Affairs Department has opened five temporary shelters for people in need. Call the department's Emergency Co-ordination Centre on 2835 1473 for more information.

Thirty-nine landslides have been reported. Two people have been reported trapped under a collapsed concrete slab at Cafeteria Old Beach, Tuen Mun. Forty firemen have been deployed to the location.

As at 2pm seven men and nine women sought treatment at public hospitals because of the rainstorm. Two were admitted into hospitals in stable condition.

Due to landslips and flooding, North Lantau Highway was completely closed at 8.30am. Highways Department staff are working at the site.

All Central Allocation Centres for Primary 1 Admission were closed today. Parents can collect registration forms from the centres tomorrow. If parents are unable to collect the forms they should go to the School Places Allocation Section at Lui Kee Education Services Centre, 269 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai from 2pm to 6pm on June 10 or from 9am to 1pm on June 11 to collect the forms.

The Hospital Authority's general out-patient clinics, specialist clinics including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, geriatric day hospitals and psychiatric day hospitals were also closed today.

Accident & Emergency services at hospitals remain normal. Outpatients are advised to make a new appointment after the cancellation of the rainstorm warning.

All courts, tribunals, court registries and offices have been closed today while all welfare service units of the Social Welfare Department, all childcare centres and elderly services centres did not open to the public.