Hong Kong  - At least 28 people were taken to hospital as Typhoon Koppu roared past Hong Kong late Monday and early Tuesday, emergency workers said.

Most of the injured were hit by flying objects as the typhoon, packing winds of more than 120 kilometres per hour, blasted the city of 7 million people.

Schools and offices were closed and ferry services suspended as high winds and heavy rain continued to pummel the city Tuesday morning, as the typhoon made landfall in neighbouring southern China.

There were flight delays Tuesday as Hong Kong's severe tropical storm warning remained in force.

Across the territory, trees and scaffolding were toppled by the storm, and there were reports of heavy localized flooding. The typhoon came within 140 kilometres of the city around 4 am but did not score a direct hit.

Koppu killed three people and injured three when it hit the Philippines as a tropical depression on Saturday before being upgraded to a tropical storm and then a typhoon. (dpa)