XN000022-1982-07-27 — Page 11

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1982

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SEACATS HOLD THE LINE AGAINST BEACH 'LAP-SAP'

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THE FRONTLINE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST OFF-SHORE BEACH LITTER IS BEING HELD BY CRAFT WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED ONLY FOR RESCUE WORK.

WHEN SHALLOW-DRAUGHT LIFE-SAVING SEACATS WERE INTRODUCED AT HONG KONG'S BEACHES FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE ALSO IDEAL VESSELS FOR COLLECTING CLOSE-TO-SHORE FLOATING REFUSE.

BECAUSE SEACATS ARE TWIN-HULLED LIKE CATAMARANS, THEIR CREWS RIDE OVER OPEN WATER, MAKING THE JOB OF COLLECTING FLOATING RUBBISH FAIRLY SIMPLE.

THE CREWS WERE THEREFORE ORDERED TO CLEAN UP THE WATER WHEN NOT ENGAGED IN LIFE-SAVING, AND, TODAY, THEIR CLEANING OPERATION TAKES UP MOST OF THEIR WORKING HOURS.

EACH VESSEL IS MANNED BY THREE QUALIFIED LIFE-GUARDS, EACH OF WHOM TAKES HIS TURN FISHING 'LAP-SAP' (REFUSE) OUT OF THE WATER WITH A RAKE.

THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN'S DRIVE TO RID BEACHES OF RUBBISH IS KEEPING THE LIFE-GUARDS BUSY THIS SUMMER, PARTICULARLY WHEN HEAVY RAINS WASH LAND-BASED LAP-SAP INTO THE SEA.

BUT THE EIGHT CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SEACATS NOW OPERATING AT URBAN BEACHES ARE MANAGING TO HOLD THE LINE AGAINST RUBBISH.

TWO OF THE EIGHT CRAFT ARE DRIVEN BY 25-HORSEPOWER OUTBOARD MOTORS WHILE THE REST ARE PADDLED.

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