LCQ18: Engaging in high-risk activities during inclement weather

(2) The Government is highly concerned about and strongly condemns the acts of individuals engaging in high-risk activities during adverse weather conditions, particularly those persons who bring young children to seafronts or dangerous locations for chasing winds and watching waves. The HKPF, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) currently have regulations in place to regulate such dangerous behaviours, which include:
 During the recent onslaught of Super Typhoon Ragasa, the HKPF took stringent enforcement actions including conducting three operations resulting in the arrest of four persons in total. These persons had brought young children to seafronts or dangerous locations for wind-chasing and wave-watching activities during adverse weather conditions, and were suspected of committing the offence of “neglect by those in charge of a child or young person” under the Offences against the Person Ordinance. In addition, a man was found swimming at the closed Golden Beach in Tuen Mun, suspected of contravening the Bathing Beaches Regulation. The HKPF had applied for summons to prosecute that person. The HKPF will actively follow up on relevant cases and will timely publicise enforcement actions to demonstrate the Government’s zero tolerance stance towards such behaviours.

The above-mentioned enforcement actions have clearly demonstrated the Government’s resolute stance on holding individuals accountable for the irresponsible acts endangering life safety. The Government has also taken note of the views in the community calling for a response, from the legislative perspective, to target the irresponsible wind-chasing and wave-watching behaviours during adverse weather conditions. The Government will take a holistic view in studying this issue.Issued at HKT 17:25

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