Hong Kong authorities will consider whether bringing children storm chasing could constitute neglect, after a family was swept into the sea while watching waves at a waterfront during Super Typhoon Ragasa.
While the incident was “unfortunate,” Hong Kong does not have laws explicitly criminalising storm chasing, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on Thursday.
However, “whether or not parents taking their children to places known to be dangerous amounts to child neglect, I think we have to look into that,” he said in Cantonese.
Tang made the remarks on an RTHK programme after a couple and their son fell into the sea in Chai Wan on Tuesday afternoon, when a T8 signal was in force.
At a press conference held hours after the incident, police said the family had gone to the waterfront to watch the waves during the typhoon. The mother and son were swept away by strong waves, and the father jumped into the water to rescue them.
All three were still in hospital on Thursday. The mother’s and the son’s conditions have improved from critical to serious, while the father is in stable condition.
While the city does not have any laws explicitly criminalising storm chasing, trespassing into a closed area, like a beach, may amount to a criminal offence, Tang said.
Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance’s Bathing Beaches Regulation, failing to comply with temporary closure arrangements could lead to a fine of up to HK$2,000 and 14 days’ imprisonment.
Police said on Thursday evening that two women were arrested after allegedly bringing a child storm chasing in South Horizons. The pair were apprehended on suspicion of child neglect.
One of the women is the eight-year-old boy’s mother.
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.
“The police force strongly condemns such irresponsible acts by those bringing young children storm chasing under extreme weather conditions,” said Cheung Wai-shan, a chief inspector of Western District.
Cheung said none of them were seriously hurt, but the boy’s hands and feet were scraped.
Super Typhoon Ragasa prompted the Hong Kong Observatory to hoist the T10 signal – its strongest storm warning – in the early hours of Wednesday. The typhoon has since weakened and moved away from Hong Kong.
