XN000022-1982-05-21 — Page 15

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1982

14

1982 WATER SPORTS SAFETY CAMPAIGN

****

A WATER SPORTS SAFETY DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD THIS SUNDAY (MAY 23) AT THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL_IN TAI MONG TSAI, SAI KUNG, TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR'S WATER SPORTS SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

IT IS ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION OF WATER SPORTS BODIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

A NUMBER OF AQUATIC SPORTS SUCH AS SWIMMING, DIVING, CANOEING, DINGHY SAILING, WINDSURFING AND BOATING WILL BE FEATURED IN THE EVENT AND THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE EXPERTS ON THE +DO'S+ AND +DON'TS+ FOR EACH ACTIVITY,

SPEAKING TONIGHT (FRIDAY) AT THE DINNER MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KWUN TONG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS, MR CHAM SIU-LEUN SAID: THIS EVENT IS AN IMPORTANT AND MAJOR VEHICLE IN THE OVERALL PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE HOME THE 'PLAY SAFE' MESSAGE TO ALL THOSE WHO ENJOY WATER SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.-

IF

+OUR BASIC AND VITAL MESSAGE IS THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY AVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS AT SEA AND OFF OUR BEACHES EACH YEAR. PEOPLE CAN JUST EXERCISE MORE COMMON SENSE AND CARE, A LOT OF ACCIDENTS CAN WELL BE AVOIDED, HE CONTINUED.

+THROUGH THE COVERAGE OF THE MASS MEDIA, IT IS HOPED THAT THE MESSAGE WILL REACH ALL SECTORS OF THE SOCIETY AND THAT ACCIDENT RATES IN AQUATIC SPORTS WILL DROP FURTHER, MR CHAM ADDED,

MR CHAM POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN AN ENCOURAGING DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN SOME AQUATIC ACTIVITIES IN 1981 AS COMPARED WITH 1980, THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT SAFETY RULES SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN OR OVERLOOKED.

THIS YEAR'S PUBLICITY PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE A WATER SPORTS SAFETY FILM TO BE SHOWN IN SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, AND A SERIES OF WATER SPORTS SAFETY POSTERS.

PUBLICITY IN SAFETY IN WATER SPORTS IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE LOOKS INTO THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF ALL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK ONES, AND ADVISES GOVERNMENT ON THE PROPER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

+WE ARE, THEREFORE, EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IN LAND- ORIENTED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MR CHAM SAID.

+ IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL BE ORGANISING A LAND SPORTS PLAY SAFE DAY TO PUBLICISE SAFETY MESSAGES FOR LAND ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.

0

/15