XN000022-1976-08-19 — Page 5

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1976.

LIFESAVERS TO GUARD CHEUNG SHA BEACH

****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ARRANGED FOR 15 VOLUNTEER LIFESAVERS TO MAN THE TREACHEROUS CHEUNG SHA BEACH AT LANTAU FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.

THE VOLUNTEERS WILL SWING INTO ACTION ON SATURDAY (AUGUST 21) AND WILL BE ON GUARD DUTY EVERY WEEKEND AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26 14 +SWIMMING DAYS IN ALL.

THE DISTRICT OFFICE, ISLANDS, RECRUITED THE LIFESAVERS FROM THE HONG KONG LIFE SAVING CLUB HEADQUARTERS AND ITS CHEUNG CHAU AND MUI WO BRANCHES.

THE DISTRICT OFFICER ISLANDS, MR. DAVID TSUI TODAY PRAISED THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

+WE WILL BE PAYING THEM TRAVELLING EXPENSES BUT THEY WILL PROBABLY STILL BE OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, THEY DON'T SEEM TO MIND BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE'S A JOB TO BE DONE, HE SAID.

NINE OF THE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE POSTED ON THE LONG BEACH WHILE THE OTHER SIX WILL WATCH THE CHEUNG SHA' LOWER VILLAGE BEACH. THE GROUP WILL BE ASSISTED BY TEENAGERS FROM THE VILLAGE WHO HAVE ALSO OFFERED THEIR HELP.

THE LIFESAVERS WILL BE USING WATCH TOWERS BUILT FOR THEM BY THE 1ST BATTALION LIGHT INFANTRY, AND WILL ALSO HAVE TWO RESCUE CANOES ON STANDBY.

MR. TSUI SAID HE HAD ALSO RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN ARRANGING FOR THE BEACH GUARDS FROM THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES HEAD- QUARTERS AND ITS CHEUNG CHAU BRANCH.

+EVERYBODY HAS CO-OPERATED ENTHUSIASTICALLY IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMISE DANGER AT THE BEACH, HE SAID.

BUT MR. TSUI APPEALED TO SWIMMERS NOT TO USE THE BEACH WHEN A STRONG WIND SIGNAL WAS HOISTED BECAUSE IT WAS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS WHEN EXPOSED TO SOUTH-WESTERLY WINDS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE FIRST DAY OF THE LIFE GUARD PATROL AT CHEUNG SHA BEACH ON SATURDAY (AUGUST 21). THE LAUNCH SIR CECIL CLEMENTI WILL TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BEACH, LEAVING THE MARINE DEPARTMENT PIER, HONG KONG ISLAND, AT 8.45 A.M. AND THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 9 A.M. KERRY MCGLYNN, PRINCIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER, NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST WITH ANY INQUIRIES.

15