Storm Signal No. 8 - really?

Cocooned in my sturdy, dry studio apartment today with a mug of scalding tea, I braced myself for rattling glass panes and howling winds. My spaniel Lola's kennel called to suggest I pick her up a day later. The South China Morning Post online announced that schools and businesses would be closed. My beloved New York Times got in on the action and reported that the Olympic equines were not in danger and were sleeping through the storm.

But as I eyed my dwindling supply of toilet paper and lack of dinner ingredients, I began to notice... dry skies. Pathetic little drips of rain. Gentle ripplings of wind. And totally solid, silent windows.

So, my question is, what makes a storm signal 8? I've dragged myself through violent sideways rain and winds that push me around when no storm signal seemed to be issued and everyone seemed to be rushing around Hong Kong as usual.

Does storm signal 8 mean you can't go outside at all? Or only that you shouldn't walk around in certain parts of Hong Kong? Or only that you shouldn't go wind-surfing?

If I'd gone outside today would I have been in danger of falling building tiles and being blown into the path of a mini-bus? Or did everyone else go outside today and was I Chicken Little?

I just checked the South China Morning Post online and it said:

"Local media reports said strong winds in Quarry Bay caused window frames to break at an office building in Taikoo Place. The window frames then dropped down — damaging the windows of four residential buildings. No one was injured".Eek!Did you guys stay home, or is that not something true blue HongKongites do?