‘Do not swim’, Hong Kong Observatory says – but Tolo Harbour race goes ahead

Around 600 Hong Kong swimmers took part in the Cross Tolo Harbour Open Race on Sunday, despite amber rainstorm and thunderstorm warning signals being raised.

The Hong Kong Observatory had raised the thunderstorm warning at 11.15pm on Saturday, and stated explicitly that people should not swim outdoors.

The open-water race’s organisers, the Tai Po Sports Association, were adamant that the warning had not been issued, and chairman Henry Choi Kam-kong said that if that had been the case, the event would have been postponed.

The organisers had stated before Sunday that if a thunderstorm or strong monsoon signal was raised, they would decide before 6am whether to proceed.

Hong Kong was bracing for the approaching Tropical Storm Ragasa, which was set to intensify into a super typhoon and bring hurricane-force winds to the city by Wednesday.