Hong Kong has closed several of its government-run beaches and hiking trails across the city in the wake of the record-breaking rainfall the territory experienced over the past weekend. There were also 1,615 reports of fallen trees caused earlier this month by Typhoon Saola, the first T10-strength typhoon to hit the SAR in five years.
On Friday night, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that all of its 42 gazetted beaches will be closed indefinitely so that authorities could clear them of debris caused by the rain. While 15 beaches have so far been reopened between Saturday and Wednesday, the remaining 27 beaches remain closed.
The reopened beaches are:
- Tuen Mun: Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach, and Butterfly Beach
- Sai Kung: Hap Mun Bay Beach, Trio Beach, and Silverstrand Beach
- Tuen Wan: Casam Beach, Anglers’ Beach, Lido Beach, Ting Kau Beach, and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
- Hong Kong Island (South District): Deep Water Bay Beach, South Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach
In addition, the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department also closed several hiking trails after Typhoon Saola struck the city, and added more to its closure list after September 8:
| REGION | CLOSED TRAILS |
| Shing Mun Country Track | Lead Mine Track & Reservoir Section |
| Kiu Tsui Country Track | Sharp Island Country Trail |
| Pat Sin Leng | Pat Sin Leng Country Footpath |
| North | Hok Tau Reservoir Family Walk |
| Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve | Yellow Walk & Brown Walk |
| Shek O | Hong Kong Trail Section 8 near Pottinger Gap |
| Tai Tam | Tai Tam Reservoir Road |
| Tai Tam | Hong Kong Forest Track — Boa Vista Track Section |
| Tai Tam | Tai Tam Reservoir Road to Tsin Shui Wan Au |
| Ma On Shan Country Park | Fei Ngo Shan Road |
| Quarry Bay | Hong Pak Country Trail |
| Aberdeen | Black’s Link near Hong Kong Trail Section 4 |
| Tai Tong | Exit of Tai Tong Nature Trail |
| New Territories Central District City Gate | Shing Mun Barbecue Area Site No. 9 |
| Lantau South Country Park | South Lantau Country Trail |
| Jat’s Incline | Morning Walker’s Garden |
| Tsiu Hang | Tsiu Hang Nature Trail |
| Clear Water Bay | Clear Water Bay Tree Walk |
The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a Landslip Warning, which cautions people against going to steep slopes or hilly areas. The meteorological body forecasts that the rest of Monday will be cloudy and that there will be heavy thunderstorms in some parts of the territory.
Header image credits: Jackie & Dennis and 57Andrew via Flickr
