Two Cathay Pacific airliners departing Hong Kong to Taiwan have been canceled as Typhoon Matsa is approaching Taiwan, local media reported Friday.

The two airliners are Flight CX 407 and Flight CX 403, which were scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. respectively.

Cathay Pacific Airlines Flight CX 471, which was due to arrive at Hong Kong at 10:45 a.m., will be delayed for around an hour because of the typhoon, the report said.

Owing to Typhoon Matsa, Taiwan's stock market and foreign exchange market close Friday.

According to news reaching here from Taipei, the typhoon will bring rainstorm to Taiwan. The rainfalls in some areas are expected to exceed 600 mm.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2005)