Hong Kong beaches remain closed – but why? Community warns of inexperienced swimmers heading outside safety nets
- Hong Kong’s beaches have been closed since July and the swimming community says it has pushed them into dangerous areas
- Swimming outside safety nets, and cat-and-mouse games with security guards have created a new reality
“If you’re going to allow flying to Singapore, why aren’t you allowing this?” said Woodring, who also organises a number of open water swimming races in Hong Kong. “Right now, there’s hundreds of people in Central standing right next to each other on every street corner every day, and when people go to the beach, they like to stay separate naturally.”
Beaches run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have been sanctioned off from the public since July 15, as part of the city’s efforts to contain the third coronavirus wave. These dozen or so beaches run by the department were not cordoned off during the first two waves, but tape and barriers have been used to stop people from accessing the beach and water for the past three months.
As Hong Kong heads into November and temperatures drop, its outdoor swimming community said the only thing the government is achieving now is putting people in danger.
Because swimmers are not able to swim within the safety nets of patrolled beaches now, or risk being slapped with a fine, most are heading into the open ocean.