Extreme weather chasers to be jailed and fined: govt

The government intend to deter locals from chasing extreme weather by imposing fines and imprisonment, said Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki on Thursday.

To enhance strategies and measures to cope with extreme weather, a joint press conference was held by the government to prepare for the upcoming typhoon season by strengthening forecast warnings and undertaking emergency and recovery measures.

Chan said that there are still many people who go hiking and chasing the wind during extreme weather, and he slammed them for not only endangering their lives but also the lives of the rescue workers.

For citizens who refuse to listen to warnings, Chan said the government will take strict enforcement actions and charged them to reach a deterrent effect.

Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip said rescue workers were deployed 35 times to mountain and water search and rescue over the course of three years under extreme weather.

He added that the government would shut down beaches and the country parks during extreme weather, and those breaking the ban will be fined HK$2,000 and jailed for 14 days.

As for the MTR trains, which used to stop running in the open sections of the railway under Storm Signal No. 9, will now try to reach the final destination or major stations connected to shopping malls or other commercial areas before ceasing operations instead.

Chan also announced the precautions undertaken by the Drainage Service Department, such as increasing and refining drainage facilities, along with better and swifter weather information from the Hong Kong Observatory.