SUNDAY, JULY 15, 1984

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SAFETY MESSAGES FOR WATER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS

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+COMMON SENSE AND CARE+ WERE THE KEY WORDS IN THE SAFETY PEAL MADE BY MR PERCY DAVY, DIRECTOR OF MARINE, AT THE 1984 SATER SPORTS SAFETY DAY TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EVENT HELD AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI EAST PROMENADE, MR DAVY SAID, REGRETTABLY WITH THE INCREASE IN ACTIVITIES IN THE SEA AROUND US, ACCIDENTS WILL INCREASE UNLESS COMMON SENSE AND CARE ARE EXERCISED BY PARTICIPANTS AT ALL TIMES.+

+WE ARE NOW WELL INTO THE SUMMER SEASON WHEN MANY PEOPLE DURING THEIR LEISURE TIME CONCENTRATE ON OUTDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. IT IS THEREFORE A MOST OPPORTUNE AND APPROPRIATE TIME TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE NECESSITY TO OBSERVE THE BASIC SAFETY RULES, HE ADDED.

IN HIS WELCOME ADDRESS TO MR DAVY, MR JOHN FORTUNE, CHAIRMAN OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY SUB-COMMITTEE ON AQUATIC SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S RECREATIONAL ACCIDENTS RATE WAS MUCH TOO HIGH.

HE SAID THE WATER SPORTS SAFETY DAY WAS NOT ONLY AIMED AT THE SPORTING ENTHUSIASTS WHO ALREADY UNDERSTAND SAFETY ON THE SEA BUT ALSO AT THE FAMILY OR GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO OUT ON A SUNDAY OR HOLIDAY FOR A SWIM OR BARBECUE AT A BEACH.

+ IT IS THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO INCUR ACCIDENTS IN THE SEA AND IN THE SWIMMING POOLS, HE SAID.

THE 1984 WATER SPORTS SAFETY DAY WAS ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF EIGHT WATER SPORTS BODIES AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WAS A SEA PARADE BY THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, THE HONG KONG WATER SKI ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG UNDERWATER FEDERATION, THE HONG KONG POWER BOAT ASSOCIATION LTD, THE OUTWARD BOUND TRUST OF HONG KONG, THE SAIL TRAINING ASSOCIATION AND THE WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG.

IT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF SAFETY DEMONSTRATIONS ON WINDSURFING, SYNCHRONISED SAILING, CANOE-TO-SWIMMER RESCUE, LIFE-SAVING, SAILING PRACTICE, CANOEING, SCULLING AND WATER-SK I ING.

THERE WERE ALSO STATIC DISPLAYS, VIDEO TAPE SHOWS AND A QUIZ ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR SPORTS TO DRIVE HOME THE SAFETY MESSAGES.

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