Father and domestic helper arrested for wave-watching with children during Ragasa

Hong Kong police arrested a local man and an Indonesian woman on Friday for allegedly bringing two young children to watch waves along the Kennedy Town waterfront during the No. 10 typhoon signal.

During the recent Typhoon Ragasa, Hong Kong authorities continued their crackdown on dangerous behavior as some adults were found taking young children to chase winds and waves along the coast, putting lives at risk. 

Today, police arrested two individuals in Kennedy Town—a 46-year-old father and a 33-year-old Indonesian domestic helper—for allegedly neglecting or endangering two boys, aged 4 and 6, by bringing them to the waterfront to observe the storm. 

The police are also following up on a separate incident in Chai Wan, where a family of three fell into the sea during the typhoon.

A video that surfaced online on September 24 showed four people, including two adults and two young children, at the intersection of Cadogan Street and Kennedy Town waterfront engaging in risky behavior by watching waves crash near the shore. 

Despite protective wire netting along the coast, powerful waves frequently surged onto the road, creating hazardous conditions. 

The footage raised concerns that the children, if not held securely, could have been swept away by the wind or waves.

Police investigations in the Western District confirmed the safety of the two boys seen in the video, who fortunately sustained no injuries. 

Authorities are still looking into whether the children’s mother was aware of the incident. 

Over the past two days, the Western District police have conducted two rounds of arrests, detaining a total of four individuals for taking young children to dangerous locations, such as coastal areas, during the typhoon. 

These actions have been deemed highly irresponsible, as they not only endangered the adults and children involved but also posed potential risks to rescue personnel in the event of an accident.

The police have urged parents and guardians to avoid such reckless behavior for the sake of thrill-seeking, emphasizing the need to prioritize safety. 

They stressed that all cases involving the endangerment of children will be thoroughly investigated and handled according to the law.

Regarding the Chai Wan incident, the father has been discharged from the hospital, while the mother and child remain under medical care but are reportedly in stable condition. 

Authorities continue to monitor the case and have called on the public to offer support to the recovering mother and child.

Updated 9.49pm