More lifeguards will be on duty to complement an air and sea patrol after a beach patrol boat narrowly escaped a head-on collision with a five-metre shark yesterday.
Bathers have been told not to swim around Sai Kung over the next few days. And divers have been ordered to check shark nets installed on 22 beaches.
The contingency plan was drawn up at an emergency meeting yesterday.
At present, the nets are checked twice a week.
The Deputy Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Benjamin Tang Kwok-bun, said: 'An urgent inspection showed all the nets were in good condition. Three more lifeguards will be on duty at each beach. Marine Police have agreed to step up patrols off Sai Kung beaches.' The working group also agreed to ask Government Flying Services to send helicopters to patrol beaches on weekends and public holidays.
Patrol leader Ng Fu-ming said yesterday's shark passed three metres from their boat.