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Letters | Coronavirus in Hong Kong: blocking access to beaches has a dangerous side effect
- Although the government has closed beaches to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, people continue to use them, risking their own safety
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I am writing in response to the article “Hong Kong beaches remain closed – but why?” (October 24).
Last month, when I visited Cheung Chau, it seemed to be packed with as many visitors as before; the only difference was that all of us had masks on our faces. When I walked past the beaches, I saw red-and-white tape and many barriers to prevent people from entering the beach. Several tourists were taking pictures in front of those barriers. However, as I moved forward, I was shocked to observe that some people had crossed the barriers and gone into the water in some isolated areas.
It is illegal for the swimmers to enter the beaches as they have been closed by the government. If caught, they would be penalised. However, that did not deter the swimmers, kayakers and boaters from choosing to use the area of the beach beyond the safety nets to avoid being caught by the authorities. What they overlooked is that it is very dangerous to swim outside the safety nets, without lifeguard supervision.
The government’s decision to close beaches for a while, until the pandemic is contained, was well-intentioned, but the authorities seem to have overlooked the side effects of blocking access to public beaches. It would be appreciated if the government could send more officers to prevent the illegal use of beaches and ensure the safety of citizens. Also, more publicity is needed to inform people why it is best that they avoid going to the beach for their own good.
Finally, I hope the pandemic will be over soon so that people around the world can soon resume ordinary activities, like going to beaches and swimming with friends.
Mavis Lam, Kwai Chung
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