A Hong Kong man has been prosecuted and may face up to 14 days in jail after he allegedly swam at a public beach that was shut down on Wednesday, when the city was hit by Super Typhoon Ragasa.
Police on Friday sought a summons order from a court to prosecute a 54-year-old man, surnamed Tai, who stands accused of breaching the Bathing Beaches Regulation under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance at a public beach on Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun.
According to the police, the man was suspected of swimming at the beach at noon on Wednesday, when the city’s highest typhoon signal, T10, was in force. An officer gave the man a warning, and he left the area later.
The regulation stipulates that any person who fails to comply with a temporary beach closure commits an offence, the police said. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$2,000 and 14 days in prison.
See also: In Pictures: Super Typhoon Ragasa leaves Tseung Kwan O promenade in ruins
The prosecution followed the arrests of two women on Thursday for allegedly bringing a child storm chasing in South Horizons. The pair were apprehended on suspicion of child neglect. One of the women is the mother of the eight-year-old boy.
The incident was captured in a video that went viral on Wednesday. In the clip, three people – including a child – were swept up by a big wave while one of the women was taking a selfie.
Authorities previously warned members of the public against storm chasing when Ragasa was closing in on the city.
On Tuesday afternoon, a couple and their five-year-old boy fell into the sea while watching waves at a waterfront in Chai Wan. The parents were widely criticised online for taking their son and daughter out when the T8 signal was hoisted.
