XN000022-1985-02-24 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1985

BEACH RAFTS -- A NOVELTY TO THE WORLD

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HONG KONG IS POSSIBLY THE ONLY PLACE WHERE BEACH RAFTS ARE MOORED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA FOR BEACH-GOERS TO TAKE A REST AND TO ENJOY THE SUN, THE SEA AND THE SCENERY AFTER A LONG SWIM.

IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA WHERE SWIMMING IS POPULAR, NO RAFTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BEACHES AND THE ONLY RESEMBLANCE IS A PONTOON.

BUT SUCH A PONTOON WITH A FIBRE GLASS DECK AND A WOODEN SHELF IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR FRESH WATER. AND NOT SALT WATER, ACCORDING TO THE CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR AMENITIES OFFICER (SWIMMING), MR PAUL CHEUNG.

+THUS, HONG KONG HAS TO FALL BACK ON ITS OWN GENIUS IN DESIGNING AN IDEAL BEACH RAFT FOR THE LOCAL WATERS,+ SAID MR CHEUNG.

SO FAR, HONG KONG HAS SEEN THREE GENERATIONS OF BEACH RAFTS. THE OLDEST MODEL IS MADE OF STEEL AND IS STILL WIDELY USED BECAUSE OF ITS DURABILITY AND GOOD BUOYANCY.

OF THE 19 BEACH RAFTS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NINE MAIN GAZETTED BEACHES IN THE URBAN AREAS, 15 ARE STEEL ONES. THE OLDEST STEEL RAFT NOW AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG IS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD.

THE MAJOR DRAWBACK OF THIS MODEL IS ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MARINE GROWTH, BARNACLES IN PARTICULAR, WHICH WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM TO SWIMMERS.

THE SURFACE OF THE STEEL RAFT IS COVERED WITH A COCONUT MATTING TO PREVENT IT BECOMING SLIPPERY, BUT THE MATTING IS NORMALLY CORRODED BY SALT WATER AFTER TWO TO THREE MONTHS AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.

+TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF MARINE GROWTH, THE CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT CAME UP WITH A NEW DESIGN - THE GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC (GRP) OR FIBRE GLASS RAFT IN 1977, + MR CHEUNG SAID.

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+UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS PROVED QUITE UNSUITABLE FOR THE LOCAL CLIMATE AS TWO SUCH RAFTS WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR DURING TYPHOONS. AT PRESENT ONLY TWO GRP RAFTS ARE AVAILABLE ONE AT DEEP WATER BAY AND ONE AT STANLEY MAIN BEACH.+

/IN THEIR