Waitress, 40, arrested for posting 120 nude shots on social media

A 40-year-old waitress was freed on bail after being held for indecent exposure, which included "astonishing acts," in public and posting more than 120 nude photos and video clips of herself on social media.

The waitress, named Lee, who was arrested on Tuesday, must report back to police next month.

Inspector Tang Chi-shing of the Kwun Tong technology crime unit said a citizen called the police on Saturday after seeing four obscene photos of the woman on social media.

Lee was pictured exposing her naked body, showing her breasts and private parts while on Kwun Tong Promenade.

During the investigation officers found Lee had published more than 120 obscene photos and videos since last July, showing her naked body in shops, country parks, on public transport and in hotels.

After her identity was confirmed she was arrested her at her Kwun Tong residence on Tuesday.

She posed for obscene photos and videos regardless of the occasion and time, Tang said. They included "astonishing acts" on busy streets and in restaurants.

Tang said Lee behaved as she did to satisfy her own desires, adding that she did not earn money from the obscene material.

The indecent photos and video clips had gone on social media for anyone to view, Tang said, so it would have had a negative impact on children and teenagers using the internet.

He noted that anyone exposing themselves in a public place or in view of the public can be imprisoned for up to six months and fined HK$2,000.

And the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance specifies that a person publishing obscene material is liable to punishment of up to three years behind bars and a HK$1 million fine.

"The internet world is not lawless and is not a place where people can do whatever they want," Tang said.

In fact, he said, most Hong Kong laws that target crimes also apply to the internet.

Obscene photographs and videos taken in public places have featured in Hong Kong before.

A case in March saw police arrest an 18-year-old student for publishing online a video of a naked woman in the Central Library in Causeway Bay.

The four-second clip went viral online before the Leisure and Cultural Services Department alerted police.

It was understood the student did not know the woman, but he downloaded the clip from Telegram.

He then put it on his own Twitter account to generate publicity as he sold other indecent photos.