XN000022-1978-06-26 — Page 3

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MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1978

SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS CAMPAIGN

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A +SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS+ CAMPAIGN AIMED AT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN BOTH AQUATIC AND LAND SPORTS, WAS LAUNCHED TODAY.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS, MR. CHAM SIU-LEUN SAID A SPECIAL BOOKLET ENTITLED +STEPPING OUT A GUIDE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION IN HONG KONG+ HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION AT CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES OF NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOLS.

THE BOOKLET PROVIDES USEFUL INFORMATION ON VARIOUS OUTDOOR SPORTS LIKE SWIMMING, DIVING, BOATING, CANOEING, CYCLING AND MOUNTAINEERING, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY HINTS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE SPORTS.

IN ORDER TO PUBLICISE THE +PLAY SAFE+ MESSAGE, SPECIAL COLOURFUL POSTERS HIGHLIGHTING THE SAFETY HINTS OF THESE POPULAR SPORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN PRINTED. IN ADDITION RADIO MESSAGES WILL BE BROADCAST AND SHORT TELEVISION FILMS WILL BE SHOWN.

THE CHAIRMEN OF THE WORKING PARTIES ON THE VARIOUS SPORTS WILL BE VISITING THE OUTDOOR CENTRES OF THESE POPULAR SPORTS TO SEE THAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN.

MR. CHAM ALSO STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN TAKING THE LEAD IN PROVIDING OUTDOOR RECREATION AND SPORTS FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMES, HAS NOT OVERLOOKED THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE ACCIDENT STATISTICS DO NOT SUGGEST ANY IMMEDIATE CAUSE FOR ALARM, THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS FEELS THAT IN FOLLOWING THE MAXIM, +PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE+ IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE OF PLAY SAFE+ TO THE PUBLIC NOW, AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN, -IN VIEW OF THE IMPENDING START OF THE SUMMER VACATION.

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE WERE THE CHAIRMEN OF THE VARIOUS WORKING PARTIES INCLUDING MR. ALAN PYRKE, SENIOR SURVEYOR OF SHIPS, MARINE DEPARTMENT, ON CANOEING AND ROWING- MR. JOHN FORTUNE, CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, CIVIL AID SERVICES, ON UNDER- WATER DIVING- MR. JACK TUCKER, PRINCIPAL, OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL, ON MOUNTAINEERING MR. WONG HING-WAH, PRESIDENT, ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, ON CYCLING MR. NIGEL FRENCH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY. HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION BRANCH, ON SKATEBOARDING- AND MR. HOWARD YOUNG, URBAN COUNCILLOR, ON CAMPING.

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