Police have arrested two people on suspicion of child neglect after they allegedly brought two children to watch the waves at Kennedy Town as Super Typhoon Ragasa hit Hong Kong on Wednesday.

A 46-year-old man, the children’s father, and a 33-year-old foreign domestic helper were arrested after officers examined a video that had been circulating on social media.

Police said they checked CCTV footage extensively before making the arrests on Friday.

Western District Chief Inspector Cheung Wai-shan described the situation as extremely dangerous, although the two boys, aged four and six, were not injured.

“At the time, there were swells and seawater had already started surging onto the pavement, but the two adults were still bringing the children there to take photos. There was a very real risk they could have been swept away by the waves. The situation was perilous and could have caused serious injury or even endangered the children’s lives, so the police take this case very seriously,” she said.

Cheung added that parents should never seek excitement at the expense of safety, stressing that children’s wellbeing must always come first.

“This kind of behaviour not only puts themselves and children in extreme danger, but if an accident happened, it could also place extra burdens or risks on rescuers. It is a highly irresponsible act that should be condemned by society,” she said.