Legal Tales | Does Hong Kong need to criminalise storm chasing or will idea blow over?
As Super Typhoon Ragasa swept through Hong Kong, thrill seekers were involved in a number of bizarre incidents
Thankfully, advance warning of the storm and comprehensive preparations in Hong Kong and mainland China, including the evacuation of nearly 2 million people in high-risk areas of Guangdong, averted catastrophe. Still, the impact was significant, with 101 injuries reported in Hong Kong and substantial property damage.
Among the debris left in Ragasa’s wake is a debate over whether Hong Kong law should criminalise the behaviour known as “storm chasing”.
During the super typhoon, a number of bizarre incidents – such as a man breaking into a closed public beach for a swim and onlookers crowding promenades – brought this form of thrill seeking into the public eye.
Nature’s power and fierce beauty are something to behold, but it should not be taken lightly. In a tragic case, a 38-year-old mother and her five-year-old son were swept into the sea by large waves. The father attempted to dive into the water and save them, but they all had to be rescued, with the mother and son rushed to intensive care.
Immediately after Ragasa, several people were arrested on suspicion of child neglect for also bringing children to watch the storm at waterfront locations.