Five dragged to court for entering 'infinity pools' from which fresh water is collected
PHILA SIUphila.siu@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 13 October, 2015, 12:01am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 13 October, 2015, 12:01am
A pool at Shui Lo Cho.
Five hikers were fined HK$1,000 each in Tsuen Wan Court yesterday for taking a dip in an area dubbed Lantau Island's "infinity pools".
The pools, a popular hiking destination at Shui Lo Cho, Yi O, in fact serve as a gathering ground for fresh water, and entering them is illegal because of the risk of pollution to the fresh water supply.
READ MORE: The Lantau Infinity Pools party poopers
A Water Supplies Department spokesman said the department received complaints in May about illegal entry to the water source at the gathering ground in Shui Lo Cho, which had caused pollution to fresh water sources.
The department called in police and 10 people were arrested in total. The other five pleaded guilty earlier at Eastern Court, with each fined HK$500.
"The gathering ground and the impounding reservoirs are both sources of fresh water and should not be contaminated. Hikers in particular should protect these precious water resources while enjoying the beautiful scenery there," a department spokesman said.
"Furthermore, the gathering ground and the impounding reservoirs are prone to serious flooding and therefore dangerous. They are definitely not suitable for water play or swimming."
Under the Waterworks Ordinance, anyone who bathes or washes in a waterworks is liable to prosecution. The maximum punishment is a fine of HK$50,000 and two years' imprisonment. The department encourages anyone to report violations of the law.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1866662/hong-kong-hikers-fined-taking-illegal-dip-lantau-islands
