My Take | Not playing King Canute during a typhoon is a matter of common sense
The government is looking at new legislation after some souls risked their lives during Ragasa. But the laws will not be easy to draft
Hong Kong awaits typhoons with some trepidation, being well aware of the devastation they can wreak. But the storms also bring a sense of excitement, romance and wonder. They are part of the city’s collective memory.
This fascination with the forces of nature led some foolhardy souls last week to recklessly venture too close to the coastline during Super Typhoon Ragasa. It left them at the mercy of the raging sea and placed their lives in danger. Some even took children with them.
It was more wave-watching than storm chasing. But there were enough thrill-seekers and risk takers to raise concerns. Now, the government is cracking down and considering new laws to combat the craziness.
There is a need to proceed with caution. New laws will not be easy to draft and might prove ineffective. Some thrill-seekers will still not be deterred.
Clearly, more needs to be done to make people aware of what should be very obvious risks, especially where children are concerned. It is mainly a matter of common sense.
Most of those who braved the waves, often in search of selfies or videos, escaped with not much more than a drenching. That might be due more to luck than judgment.