XN000022-1985-06-14 — Page 10

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1985

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SAFETY-IN-SPORTS DRIVE STARTS SUNDAY

* * * *

TWO MAJOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS TO PROMOTE SAFETY IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE ORGANISED THIS YEAR.

THE FIRST EVENT, FEATURING WATER SPORTS SAFETY, WILL BE HELD AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI PROMENADE ON SUNDAY (JUNE 16).

THE OTHER WILL BE A LAND SPORTS SAFETY DAY, TO BE HELD IN DECEMBER.

ANNOUNCING THE PLANS FOR THE 1985 SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS CAMPAIGN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (FRIDAY) DR S. F. LAM, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOP COMMITTEE ALSO SAID THAT TWO SHORT FILMS WERE BEING MADE TO SPREAD THE WATER SAFETY MESSAGE.

ONE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST (API) WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF SWIMMING IN EXCAVATED SITES, RESERVOIRS, STREAMS, AND CATCHMENT AREAS.

THE OTHER WILL ADVISE POWER BOAT OPERATORS, TO TAKE HEED OF SWIMMERS.

DR LAM SAID THAT ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS TO CONVEY THE 'PLAY SAFE' MESSAGE WAS THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, AND CALLED ON THE PRESS TO HELP CARRY THE MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

SPEAKING ALSO, MR J.A. FORTUNE, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING PARTY ON WATER SPORTS SAFETY 1985 SAID THAT MOST ACCIDENTS WERE DUE MAINLY TO A LACK OF COMMON SENSE, LACK OF TRAINING, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE SEA, AND +FOOLISH BRAVADO+.

QUITE OFTEN THE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, HE SAID.

+ THE WATER SPORTS SAFETY DAY TO BE HELD THIS SUNDAY IS PRIMARILY AIMED NOT AT THE EXPERIENCED SPORTSM AN WHO INEVITABLY SEEKS PROPER TRAINING IN HIS PARTICULAR SPORT, BUT AT 'MR AVERAGE MAN'. + HE SAID.

+1T IS DESIGNED TO BRING HOME TO EVERYBODY THE IMPORT AN CE OF USING THEIR COMMON SENSE AND TO ABIDE BY THE SAFETY RULES OF THE SPORT THEY ARE UNDERTAKING.+

HE SAID THAT PEOPLE TAKING UP WATER SPORTS, SHOULD FIRST SEEK PROPER ADVICE AND, TRAINING, AND ALSO LEARN TO APPRECIATE THE HAZARDS OF THE PARTICULAR SPORT.

+THE SEA DOES NOT FORGIVE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKES. NORMALLY, WITH A WATER-ORIENTED ACCIDENT, THERE IS SELDOM A SECOND CHANCE,+ HE SAID.

/MR P.E.

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