HK Security Minister Wants to Prosecute Storm Chasers

A man sits on a bench in Tseung Kwan O with waves coming

As Hong Kong cleans up and gets back to business after Super Typhoon Ragasa, there are many questions about what to do next time. Climate change has made typhoon winds stronger and can cause greater destruction than before, as evidenced by the Fullerton Hotel in Ocean Park, with its glass entrance doors smashed by the waves, and restaurants along the Tseung Kwan O waterfront also destroyed.

Experts are calling for developing mangroves and oyster reefs to act as natural barriers, and also help clean up the water quality as well (which would be good), while others are calling for taller breakwaters, higher floodgates and more swales, sunken areas that can retain water instead of building underground stormwater facilities.

Waves pummelled low-lying areas in Hong Kong

These are all great ideas and hopefully they will be implemented in the next year or so.

But what to do about the silly people who wandered out in dangerous conditions and got themselves injured?

A family of four were taking a selfie when a giant wave pushed them off their feet. A man sat on a bench as a giant tidal wave came at him and he didn't even move. Of course the force of nature washed him off immediately.

Now Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung is looking into existing legislation and consider enacting new laws.

"I felt heartbroken seeing parents treating [storm chasing] as fun and bringing their children along to watch the waves. You are actually endangering your children," he said. "Think of your family and the rescuers who take a risk to save you."

Tang is looking into prosecuting storm chasers

Tang says current laws could target storm chasers, and that bringing children along could be considered as neglect. 

He suggested residents who refused to leave dangerous areas when ordered by police could be charged with obstructing a police officer.

Currently storm chasers and surfers can be fined HK$2,000 and face up to 14 days' imprisonment for anyone entering a public beach closed during extreme weather.

While Tang did not say how many people were arrested or charged for storm chasing during Super Typhoon Ragasa, he wanted to warn the public of the dangers of being outside during typhoons...

Aftermath of Super Typhoon Ragasa

The Fullerton Hotel at Ocean Park was pummelled by waves

Super Typhoon Ragasa has come and gone from Hong Kong after over 10 hours and for the most part the city was relatively unscathed. Friends reported the incessant howling of the wind made it difficult to sleep at night, and they resorted to watching the Hong Kong Observatory updates of the massive storm's path.

The observatory has now lowered the signal to No. 8 though the Amber rainstorm warning is still in place. In some places it's hardly raining, but hey, that's what the weather forecasters are saying.

Waterfront restaurants like these were damaged

According to the Hong Kong government, there were 62 reports of injuries (37 men, 25 female), 816 people are sheltering in 50 temporary shelters, there are 437 reports of fallen trees, so far one report of a landslide, and 15 reports of flooding.

So far it seems the Fullerton Hotel at Ocean Park got a massive walloping from Ragasa. The waves pushed their waves into the entrance, breaking the glass doors and flowing into the foyer, sweeping one man off his feet in the process. "Get out!" can be heard in the video, though the clip changes to people sweeping water out.

There's also security footage of a waterfront restaurant in Tseung Kwan O where waves also pounded into the shop and practically destroyed the whole dining area; one can probably assume the kitchen is a disaster zone as well. There are comments suggesting people patronise the restaurant once it reopens... but can it after it was literally turned upside down?

Typhoon Saola Blows Through Hong Kong

Over 1,500 trees were reported fallen all over the city

Typhoon Saola blew through Hong Kong yesterday and most of the city was left in tact from the T10 tropical cyclone that packed winds at 200km/hr.

Eighty-six people were sent to hospital, while there were reports of 1,545 fallen trees and two landslides. Many of the trees were strewn across roads, causing traffic headaches this morning on major thoroughfares, like the Island Eastern Corridor and Gloucester Road in Wan Chai, though city crews did their best to remove most of the debris.

A tree that replaced one after Mangkut also fell

Someone posted on X, formerly known as Twitter that a tree by a gas station that had replaced one that fell after Super Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 had fallen after Typhoon Saola. Too bad it wasn't mature enough to hang on, or perhaps the space for it didn't allow its roots to spread further into the ground?

My cousin reported that during T10, all outdoor MTR trains were not running, while there was flooding in Tai O, and minor flooding along the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin. 

Many residents in Lohas Park in Tseung Kwan O reported their flats were swaying during the brunt of the typhoon's force, with some experiencing headaches and motion sickness.

Reminds me of Typhoon Mangkhut when I felt my building swaying too, and I felt a bit dizzy and had to lie down for a bit!

Tai O experienced flooding after Typhoon Saola

As Hong Kong returns back to "normal", tropical Haikui may approach the city on Monday.

Hopefully it will not induce residents to ransack supermarkets like when Typhoon Saola was approaching -- people grabbed whatever they could, sweeping shelves clean as if they were preparing to hunker down for weeks.

People seem to forget that a typhoon rarely lasts longer than 24 hours and so there is no need to hoard food!

Wear Dog Collar, Can Protest in HK

Police stipulate no masks and wear numbered tags to protest

To hold a protest in Hong Kong in a post-national security law environment is getting harder and more outrageous.

A group of homeowners in Tseung Kwan O want to hold a rally protesting the proposed reclamation for building "obnoxious facilities", such as garbage collection stations.

While the group did get the green light from the police to hold the protest, they need to meet some requirements -- not to wear masks, but wear tags around their necks to "prevent criminals from mixing".

The days of mass protests are over in Hong Kong

Bad elements are going to hijacks a protest about refuse collection stations?

First the authorities think this protest is going to get out of hand and wants to be able to identify everyone for filming purposes;

Not only that, the protesters need to wear number tags around their necks like animals to certify they are legitimate rabble rousers. 

Oh and don't violate the national security law -- even though it's not clearly spelled out.

If the protest goes ahead on Sunday it will be the first since the government lifted all Covid-19 restrictions including social distancing and the mask mandate.

About 100 people are expected at the upcoming protest, with the stipulation that no one can join half way through. The unusual restrictions are particularly stringent for organiser Cyrus Chan Chin-chun.

"If you ask me whether or not I like those terms, the answer must be negative," Chan said. "There is nothing else I can do but fulfil such requests."

Police claim bad elements will join protests...

Earlier this month the Hong Kong Women Workers' Association had permission to hold a march to mark International Women's Day, but it was suddenly cancelled and the rights group didn't explain why.

After the march was called off, the police said they had intelligence that many people, including violent gangs would attend the march.

In addition, League of Social Democrats said four of its members who were going to join the rally were warned by national security police not to go, a day before the organisers cancelled the protest march.

If Sunday's protest does go ahead it could become the template for future marches... where the brave willing to stick out their necks with dog collars will shout a few slogans, hoping they don't violate national security and then go home hoping for the best.

Imagine trying to enforce these protest rules on people in France or Israel, the United Kingdom or the United States?

But this is sadly Hong Kong's new reality. 

Jimmy Lai's Next Digital to be Delisted

Next Digital will be delisted from the HK Stock Exchange

Another nail in the coffin for Next Digital -- the company that Jimmy Lai Chee-ying founded in 1990 will be delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 12 at 9am.

Lai was arrested in August 2020

When Lai was arrested in August 2020 and then the newspaper he founded, Apple Daily, shut down for good in June 2021 because Next Digital's HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) in assets were frozen by the authorities, it was only a matter of time before the company would be delisted. It is also in the process of being liquidated.

Many will never forget the day 200 police officers descended on the Tsueng Kwan O office and paraded Lai in handcuffs around the office. It was a blatant threat, but the staff knew what to do -- report the story in real time. 

Why not -- they had a front row seat and they were part of the story too.

They invited the media in on June 24, 2021, their last day of printing, knowing it was an historic moment that had to be recorded for everyone to remember.

Lai owns 72 percent of the company's shares, while his ardent supporters propped up the stock a few times towards the end.

Last edition of Apple Daily in June 2021

When Lai was arrested for allegedly colluding with foreign forces on August 20, 2020, the stock rallied from HK$0.75 to HK$1.96 that day. 

Then the authorities froze Next Digital's assets on May 17, 2021, along with Lai's bank accounts; that led to the suspension of share trading.

But four days later trading resumed and the stock opened 141.9 percent higher to HK$0.45 and rallied to HK$0.80.

Delisting Next Digital is just a formality, but memories of Apple Daily, Next Digital and Lai will long be remembered.