Deep Dive: Hong Kong’s crackdown on surfing ban leads to confusion

A 10-year-old Hong Kong surfing star has started training with the Swiss national team in hopes of one day competing at the Olympics.

Mahohi Nguyen Tang was born in Hong Kong to Swiss parents and learned to surf at Big Wave Bay. With no national team and a recent government crackdown on the sport, his father said it has been difficult for him to progress.

“Absolutely [we would consider representing Hong Kong], we would be so proud. I think Hong Kong people would be proud. But I don’t think there is a national Hong Kong surfing team,” said his father.

Mahohi took up the sport with his parents when he was six years old. His dad said he quickly became the best in the family. His son’s lessons at Big Wave Bay were an important part of his development.

Big Wave Bay is the only beach on Hong Kong Island that has rideable waves. The government has never allowed surfing at public beaches. They said it risks endangering swimmers. However, the ban was never heavily enforced until recently. Now, surfers could be fined or even jailed.

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In July, Mahohi was invited to a trial with Switzerland’s Junior National Surf Team. The coach offered him a place after just one session.

“His level has exploded since surfing there. Even Switzerland is building a national team. Why? Because surfing is now an Olympic sport,” his father said.

Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong said it was sad to see Hong Kong lose a potential star. He added he was “puzzled” by the government’s approach to the sport.

“Hong Kong has always been strong when it comes to oceanic sports; our first Olympic gold medal was in windsurfing,” Ho said. “The lack of support regarding this particular sport is puzzling, to say the least.”

Ho suggested the Leisure and Cultural Services Department turn part of Big Wave Bay into a spot for surfers. He said the community has been calling for it.

“I’ve known people who surf in Hong Kong, I’ve always known people who like to surf here,” Ho said. “But it turns out it’s prohibited; I didn’t know that. Now that I do, I’m going to fight for it.

“I am very surprised that Hong Kong is putting this kind of restriction on this sport.”

1. Which of the following statements is true based on News?

(1) Mahohi learned to surf at Big Wave Bay.
(2) Hong Kong has a famous national surfing team.
(3) Mahohi joined the Junior National Surf Team of Switzerland after one session.
(4) Mahohi has been surfing since he was four years old.

A. (1), (2)
B. (1), (3)
C. (2), (3)
D. (2), (4)

2. Name at least TWO factors that led to Mahohi’s decision to surf for Switzerland.

3. Using the information in News, how does lawmaker Ho feel about the government’s stricter regulations on surfing?

1. Based on the graph, what trends have you noticed about the number of immersion incidents?

2. How does the number of these incidents compare to other types? What could explain the difference?

• Spokesperson at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said offenders could be fined and even jailed for two weeks

• Undersecretary for Security recently said thrill-seeking residents were putting their lives, those of rescuers in danger

Sports instructor James* has chased the waves at Hong Kong’s Big Wave Bay Beach nearly every morning since moving to the nearby village three years ago, specifically because of its easy ocean access.

But James, like other surfers, has recently felt unwelcome at his local beach, prized as the city’s top destination for the sport for decades.

“There’s been a bit more interference from the lifeguards towards surfers and people trying to surf,” he said. “For us surfers, what’s most confusing is we are not sure why. We haven’t really been given clarification or information about this.”

The government has never allowed surfing at public beaches, but the ban was never heavily enforced. At least three shops in Big Wave Bay have been renting out surfboards for decades.

In June, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) put up new signs stating “no surfing” in English and Chinese, adding to a collection of notices about the rule.

In September, police officers searched Shek O Beach for a group of surfers seen running away from staff members of the LCSD just before the city was about to issue the No 8 warning signal over Super Typhoon Yagi.

A department spokesman told the SCMP that the ban was not new and offenders could be fined HK$2,000 (US$257) and jailed for 14 days. But he did not explain why enforcement has recently increased.

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The surfing community said the government changed its approach after Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip said that thrill-seeking residents were putting their lives in danger and exposing frontline officers to risk by chasing big waves.

“It’s a bit ironic because [Big Wave Bay] has been a surfing place since forever,” said 26-year-old teacher Mya Tsang. In her five years of surfing, she had only recently started to see patrols, she said.

“Instead of banning it all, I think people have to be more educated about these sports,” Tsang said.

In the eyes of the surfing community, the sport is being unfairly singled out by authorities. They argued that many athletic activities have some degree of danger, but the risk was no reason to ban them.

Fritz Lam, a surfer who moved to Big Wave Bay Beach to be close to the water, said the “no surfing” signs made it awkward for people interested in the sport.

“Surfing is an Olympic sport now, and it is very popular on the mainland, too,” he said. “Many will head across the border to surf because the sign is making this tricky.”

James added that the local surfing season was short, another factor authorities could consider in managing the sport. “We have a very short window of surfing in Hong Kong. Throughout the summer months, there are no waves,” he said.

Ideally, authorities and stakeholders would meet to understand each other’s concerns and work together to create a safe environment for surfing, he added.

“I would like to think we can come to an agreement for everyone and hopefully encourage more people to be confident to enter and enjoy the water,” James said.

*Name changed at interviewee’s request

1. Based on Issue, which of the following statements is true?

(1) Those who surf despite the ban can be jailed for 14 days.
(2) Big Wave Bay has dozens of shops renting out surfboards.
(3) The ban on surfing is new as of this year.
(4) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department erected new signs to enforce the surfing ban.

A. (1), (3) only
B. (2), (4) only
C. (1), (4) only
D. (2), (3) only

2. Based on News and Issue, how could the ban affect the surfing community and Hong Kong?

3. Using News and Issue, explain how people have responded to the ban. What alternatives did they suggest? What do you think of them?

1. Based on News and Issue, what might be happening in this photo and why?

2. To what extent do you agree with the government’s decision to crack down on the surfing ban? Explain using News, Issue and your own knowledge.

Big Wave Bay: also called Tai Long Wan, it is a popular spot for surfers. It is located in the southern district of Hong Kong Island, next to Big Wave Bay Beach and north of the well-known Shek O beach.

crackdown: severe and sometime sudden authority enforcement to minimise illegal activities or behaviours. This can mean greater police presence, arrests, and stricter regulations.

Leisure and Cultural Services Department: this is a department in the government of Hong Kong. It reports to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. It creates cultural activities for Hong Kong residents and manages public facilities including libraries, swimming pools, and sports centres.

prohibited: not allowed, banned

Super Typhoon Yagi: a severe typhoon that caused much destruction in Southeast Asia and south China in September 2024. More than 100 flights were cancelled in Hong Kong, and the city raised the T8 warning signal.

stakeholders: people with an interest in or concern about an issue or business. This could be because they have invested money or will otherwise be impacted by a decision.

1. B

2. Mahohi and his family decided it was best to pursue a surfing career in Switzerland because his parents were born there and because they have a national team. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has no national surfing team. Additionally, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Mahohi to improve and practise because of a crackdown on the surfing ban at Hong Kong beaches.

3. Ho was surprised and confused about the increased enforcement of the ban. He was concerned at the potential loss of a great surfing star in Mahohi. He said Hong Kong has historically performed well in water sports at the Olympics. Hence, this approach from the government was surprising, particularly as the rules are only now being enforced.

1. Few people had safety risks while swimming and surfing during extreme weather from 2020 to 2022. There was a huge spike in 2023, when 16 people needed to be rescued. Three people have required help as of September 30, but there are still a few months left of the year, so that number could rise.

2. Most years, there have been more mountain rescue incidents than immersion incidents. This could be because hiking is more popular in Hong Kong than surfing. There are also restrictions on where you can do watersports, and they require buying or renting equipment, while hiking does not.

1. C

2. As Lam suggested, the sport will be threatened in Hong Kong, with people being deterred from trying surfing because of the signs prohibiting it. Additionally, incredible talent, such as Mahohi, will leave the city to represent other places. It could also affect tourism and the livelihood of the shop owners at Big Wave Bay, as people may stop renting equipment and surfing in the area. Lam said that people will just cross the border to surf, which will not necessarily keep surfers away from danger.

3. The surfers were unsurprisingly upset at the ban. Some have chosen to ignore the ban, given that some surfers were seen running from the LCSD in September. Tsang said there should be more education about the sport rather than just blanket bans. Similarly, James felt there should be more dialogue around the subject, suggesting that authorities can work with the surfing community to make the sport safer.

1. The surfer is running away from authorities and trying to avoid getting into trouble. They were most likely surfing illegally and trying not to get in trouble.

2. I don’t agree with the government’s decision. Hong Kong is a great place for water sports, and we should encourage people to take them up. If the government is concerned about safety, they could ban surfing during extreme weather and designate certain beaches for the sport to keep them away from swimmers. (all reasonable answers considered)