Hundreds of jellyfish and tonnes of pollution are being washed towards swimmers at beaches across Hong Kong, according to engineers clearing shark nets at 22 sites.
A fresh inflow of jellyfish could give swimmers 'a hell of a sting', Natal Shark Nets senior shark control engineer Russell Dugmore said.
'We have a lot of jellyfish, mainly at Shek O and Big Wave Bay,' he said.
'Some people can be allergic to them; if the tentacles wrap around their necks their throats can swell.' Maritime Mechanic managing director Harald Kvam, whose company operates nets at 11 New Territories beaches, said the jellyfish - brown in colour with long tentacles - were appearing everywhere.
Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society chairman Dr Brian Darvell said the jellyfish stung but there was nothing serious to worry about, adding that anti-histamine cream could be applied to ease the pain.
Mr Kvam said workers at Silverstrand Beach could collect up to three tonnes of rubbish from shark nets each day.