Hong Kong  - Hong Kong was on storm alert Friday as one of the earliest-ever typhoons edged its way toward the wealthy city of 6.9 million.

Weathermen hoisted the number one typhoon signal, the lowest level of alert, as Typhoon Neoguri moved north across the South China Sea to within 800 kilometres of the former British colony.

It is the second earliest typhoon of the year to come close to Hong Kong since detailed weather records were started in 1946, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

Officials said a higher alert signal might be raised later Friday as the typhoon is on course to make landfall in southern China, west of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's typhoon season usually runs from May to November, and meteorologists said they expected five or six storms to affect the territory this year although direct hits are rare. (dpa)