Page 60 of 241
100
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and condition of the pools, equipment and premises, the quality of the water, the operation of the filtration or purification plant and the attendance of lifeguards qualified in first-aid. Water samples are also taken for bacteriological examination. These controls have, so far, proved satisfactory and no serious breach of conditions or requirements has ever been found.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, can you tell this Council the hours in which lifeguards are on duty at our beaches?
MR. SALES: Sir, at Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley Main and Shek O beaches, attendants are on duty from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. On weekdays, they are on duty from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. At all other beaches, attendants are on duty from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. throughout the week, including Sundays and public holidays.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, is it possible to have signs at our beaches to advise the public of hours of duty of our lifeguards, so that they know that before that hour they will be swimming without the attendance of the lifeguard.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that signs are to be found at such beaches and where they are not we would be obliged if Mr. P. K. NG could bring that to our attention. In any case, a survey is always being carried out to determine whether such signs have been removed or are effective for the purpose we have in view.
(4) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:
Can the Chairman assure this Council that hygienic conditions of acceptable health standard at all public swimming pools are being maintained at all times especially those under the direct control of the Urban Council?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Sir, this question concerns hygiene standards of swimming pools, particularly the public pools under the control of the Council.
Acceptable standards of hygiene are maintained at all times at the two public swimming pools at Victoria Park and Kowloon Tsai managed by this Council.
Measures to ensure the hygienic condition of swimming pools licensed by the Council were described in the answer given to my colleague's previous question.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
101
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, the reason I asked this question was because of a report in the Chinese press saying that the children's swimming pool at Victoria Park is very dirty and unsanitary. Have we made any reply to that accusation?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I would like to table a photostat copy of the article to which Mr. P. K. NG refers. The member of the staff in charge of swimming pools took up this matter immediately, not only through the medium of the press, but through radio and other forms of direct contact with the people concerned, and it has been established that, in the case of the children's pools, the fault lies entirely with the adults who want to enter these pools accompanying the children. It is the normal practice for children to be accompanied by adults where there is an element of danger, but where this trespassing occurs without valid reason, the people are warned off, and it is the experience of the department that the public is generally very co-operative in this matter.
(5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) Will you please tell this Council how many public swimming pool complexes are under construction and when it is now expected they will be ready?
(b) How many more have been approved? Where are they located? When do you expect construction will start and how long is it likely to take in each case?
(c) What other sites are reserved for such pool complexes? What does the Government propose to do in the districts where no land has been set aside for this purpose?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
Sir, this question concerns the provision of swimming pool complexes. The answer to the first part of the question is that there are at present three swimming pool complexes under construction which are located at Morse Park, Kwun Tong and Lei Cheng Uk. The Morse Park complex which was scheduled for completion in early July has unfortunately been delayed by the recent heavy rains and by ground subsidence which caused damage to the water supply piping. As a result, the project is not now expected to be completed before the middle of August this year. The Kwun Tong and Lei Cheng Uk pools have also been similarly affected but both should be completed in November this year.
Page 60
Page 61