As temperatures dipped to a 59-year-low this weekend, hundreds of Hongkongers made the trek to Hong Kong’s highest peaks to catch a rare glimpse of frost.
Some of the less informed were there to watch snow fall, despite the hopes of that being dashed days before.
One rather belligerent “frost chaser” has made headlines today after a video of her arguing with emergency personnel went viral overnight.
The clip, which appears to have originated from Apple Daily, shows the woman’s reaction when police officers cordoned off the path to Tai Mo Shan.
The hiker, who was identified as “Jenny” following the video’s release, is seen filming police officers and reporters while protesting for her right to climb the mountain.
We’ve listened in on the frankly rather screechy argument to give you non-Cantonese speaking Coconauts a rough idea of what’s going on:
Jenny: Do you want us to take another path up to the peak?
Police officer: No, don’t go up! Go back down, it’s dangerous up there.
Jenny: Dangerous? So what! It’s our responsibility to keep ourselves safe — they’re our lives — and if something happens to me then it’s your responsibility to save me. What if I still want to go up? What’s your responsibility?
Police officer: It is our responsibility to save you, but I’m appealing to you – don’t go up! The road is closed.
Jenny: So what if you’re appealing to me? What are you going to do if I want to go up?
Police officer: We won’t let you go up [that mountain].
The squabble continued for a short while longer until Jenny decided to turn her focus to the reporters present. She advanced towards the cameras while strategically covering her face with her smartphone and demanded to see their press passes.
After the video’s release, netizens were quick to slam Jenny’s behaviour, calling her arrogant and selfish. Jenny’s Facebook account was reportedly discovered and flooded with negative comments, before being hastily deactivated. Oriental Daily reports that she is politically active, having taken part in the Occupy movement, as well as the recent protest against the missing booksellers.
Some irate Hongkongers have been commenting that Jenny’s attitude is “typical” of young Hongkongers, saying her political leanings are indicative of a disproportionate sense of entitlement.
While we do not condone climbing mountains when advised not to, it seems like a bit of a leap to denounce all politically active youngsters in Hong Kong on the grounds of one stroppy hiker with a death wish.
Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co
Reader Interactions