Before the catastrophic fire, Wang Fuk Court was an ordinary Hong Kong estate with a steady, familiar rhythm of daily life.

Heavy monsoon rain overwhelmed parts of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia this week, killing more than 300 people and leaving thousands stranded, many on rooftops awaiting rescue.

Hong Kong leader John Lee, other officials and civil servants, all dressed in black, stood in silence for three minutes early on Saturday outside the central government offices, where flags were lowered to half-mast.

Some polling centres will close in stages from noon, with all of the centres scheduled to cease operations by 5.30pm.

Residents said they had not received clear warnings from local authorities as the incessant rains swelled water levels. 

Check out some great out-of-the-way seafood restaurants in Johor that even that one yaya uncle hasn’t been to yet.

No single party or coalition is expected to secure a simple majority, setting the stage for negotiations to form the next government, said analysts.

Climate change has affected storm patterns, including the duration and intensity of the season, leading to heavier rainfall, flash flooding and stronger wind gusts.

The ruling junta has said the polls, scheduled to start on Dec 28, are the path to peace.

Hong Kong is one of the world's last remaining cities to use the frames for modern construction and building repair, a practice which dates back centuries in China and other parts of Asia.

Hong Kong's anti-graft body has launched a task force to investigate possible corruption in the renovation project at the Wang Fuk Court complex.

More than a third of the inhabitants of Wang Fuk Court, the subsidised housing complex that went ablaze, were over the age of 65.

Leaders of key parties contesting the crucial state polls made a last-ditch pitch to more than 1.7 million eligible voters on Friday (Nov 28), a day before polling.

Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin - who resigned as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s senior political secretary on Nov 25 - and Albert Tei were detained separately on Friday.

More than 14,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas, the government said.

Songkhla province has been hard hit by days of flooding, with the death toll now at 55.