*
8
FRIDAY, JULY », 1980
THESE FIGURES ARE RECALCULATED TO EXCLUDE BANKS'
LIABILITIES TO, AND CLAIMS ON, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES TO OBSERVE A MINIMUM LIQUID ASSETS RATIO CAME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1, 1980.
ACCIDENTS INCREASE IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS
******
THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS REFLECTS THE LACK OF SAFETY MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY THE PUBLIC, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, MR CHAM SIU-LEUN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST.
QUOTING ACCIDENT FIGURES PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR CHAM SAID ACCIDENTS IN ALL OUTDOOR PURSUITS, BOTH LAND AND AQUATIC, ROSE FROM 2 193 IN 1978 TO 2 421 IN 1979, AN INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT.
+A TOTAL OF 38 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN 1978 AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS INCREASED IN 1979 TO 43,+ MR CHAM SAID.
HE APPEALED TO SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN SPREADING THE +PLAY SAFE+ MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC.
MR CHAM EARLIER SAID THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS HAD LOOKED INTO CERTAIN MARINE LEGISLATION WHICH PROVIDED FOR GREATER SAFETY FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN AQUATIC SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
AS A RESULT, THE COMMITTEE ADVISED ALL WATER SPORTS BODIES TO TAKE NOTE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE'S REPLY TO THEIR LETTER ON THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL REGULATION.
THE REGULATION REQUIRES ORGANISERS OF AQUATIC EVENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR ACTIVITIES WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE NAVIGATION OF VESSELS IN THE PORT, TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF ACCIDENTS AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE EVENT.
MR CHAM SAID THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING INTRODUCING SPEED LIMIT ZONES IN HONG KONG WATERS,
HE SAID THE PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT ZONES, WITH THE SPEED LIMIT LIKELY TO BE FIVE KNOTS AND THE PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ONLY WERE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
/IN VIEW