Exclusive | Hong Kong doubles down on surfing ban at public beaches, officials refuse to discuss change
Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho had requested meeting in hope of changing government’s mind, but instead was told officials would not budge
The Hong Kong government has effectively ruled out ever competing in surfing at the Olympics by doubling down on banning the sport at public beaches in the city.
Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, a lawmaker with the New People’s Party, said he had been trying to meet with the government after a months-long crackdown on surfing at Big Wave Bay started earlier this year.
However, Ho told the Post that the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) instead called him to say it would not budge on its current stance.
“They said they cannot open LCSD [Leisure and Cultural Services Department] beaches for surfing because they think there will be complaints from the public,” Ho said.
Hong Kong has 42 public beaches managed by the LCSD and surfing is prohibited at all of them.
One of those is Big Wave Bay, which is also the only beach on Hong Kong Island that has rideable waves. Despite the ban, it has been a popular surfing spot for decades.
