Issuing the first cold weather warning in winter this year, the Home Affairs Department of the government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Saturday opened 18 temporary shelters for people in need.

The temperature dropped sharply across Hong Kong on Saturday with the minimum temperature at 11 Celsius degrees in the urban areas and a few degrees lower in other areas. The average temperature of winter in Hong Kong this year was around 20 Celsius degrees.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, cold weather will persist for over a week with winds and rains, and is expected to continue over the New Year holidays.

Amid the cold weather, three seniors were sent to hospital on Saturday. Fewer people appeared on the street even though it was weekend.

"It was a little bit late to issue the cold weather warning this year as it is supposed to be issued in early December," said Shun Chi-ming, director of the Hong Kong Observatory.

"Because of El Nino, it will be warmer in Hong Kong following the rising global temperature."

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