7.
Shark warning flags to be lowered
The shark warning flags hoisted at eight Regional Council beaches in Sai Kung will be lowered tomorrow (Thursday).
The flags have been hoisted at these beaches for over 10 weeks since June 2. The beaches are Clear Water Bay First and Second, Campers, Hap Mun Bay, Kiu Tsui, Pak Sha Chau, Silverstrand and Trio.
A spokesman for the Recreation and Culture Branch said today (Wednesday) the decision to lower the flag was made in view that there had been no report of shark sighting for over two weeks. The last sighting was reported on July 30 at about 1.5 km off High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung.
However, precautionary measures would continue to be taken at Sai Kung beaches after the lowering of the flags since the fact that there had been no sightings did not necessarily mean there were no sharks in Hong Kong waters, he said.
"Apart from surveillance by the Government Flying Service, there will be close surveillance of the beach waters and monitoring of any sightings elsewhere.
"If members of the public want to swim at Sai Kung beaches, they are advised to go to Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Silverstrand where shark prevention nets have been installed.
**
'Although the installation of the shark nets is still a pilot scheme the results of which have to be evaluated and, of course, no such protection measure can be considered 100 per cent effective, nonetheless preliminary indications are that the nets do provide a barrier or obstacle to sharks," he added.
The spokesman strongly urged swimmers to heed any on-the-spot warning by lifeguards at the beaches. They are also advised to heed the following general advice:
do not swim at dawn, at dusk or at night
swim only at gazetted beaches
do not swim alone
do not swim if they are bleeding or have any open wounds