No shark alert after unconfirmed sighting
Seven or eight sharks were reportedly sighted by a woman off Deep Water Bay yesterday, but Government officials decided not to issue a shark alert as the report, the second in two days, was not confirmed.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department was immediately informed after the woman reported the sighting to police shortly after 12.30pm.
A Government Flying Service helicopter and marine police launch were sent to the scene but found no trace of sharks during a two-hour search.
The department, which manages 36 beaches, did not hoist shark flags or close any beach to swimmers. Deep Water Bay beach has protective shark nets.
Government officials were accused of overreacting by closing nine beaches on Hong Kong Island after two sharks were sighted on Sunday. A spokeswoman for the department said no shark alerts were posted yesterday because the sighting had not been confirmed by police or lifeguards.
On Sunday, two sharks measuring up to 1.5 metres were reported swimming around a boat outside the Deep Water Bay shark nets at around 10am. They were also spotted by officers aboard a Marine Police launch.
On all nine beaches, shark flags were hoisted and swimmers were advised not to go into the water. The beaches were reopened and the shark warning flags lowered at about 9.45am on Monday.
At present 32 beaches are equipped with shark nets. Contractors are required to inspect the nets at all urban beaches at least four times a week and carry out any repair work. For beaches in Sai Kung and the New Territories, contractors must check the nets at least twice a week.
Anti-shark nets have been installed on the beaches after four swimmers were killed by the predators in the early 1990s.
