XN000022-1985-06-15 — Page 9

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1985

8

WOMEN LIFEGUARDS PROTECT SWIMMERS AT HK BEACHES

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WOMEN'S LIB. HAS COME TO OUR BEACHES. THE URBAN COUNCIL LIFEGUARDS PROTECTING THE 12 BEACHES ON HONG KONG INCLUDE SOME FIT, CAPABLE AND FULLY QUALIFIED YOUNG LADIES SUCH AS 18-YEAR-OLD MISS TSOF KWEI-YIP, WHO SERVES AT REPULSE BAY.

+WOMEN ARE JUST AS CAPABLE AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS IN PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING SERVICES, SHE SAYS.

BUT SHE CONCEDES THAT WOMEN MUST BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARED TO FACE A FEW HURDLES BEFORE TAKING UP THE CHALLENGING AND MEANINGFUL JOB.

OR

+MANY MEN HAVE TRIED TO APPROACH OR PLAY JOKES ON ME WHILE I AM PATROLLING IN A CATAMARAN OR AT THE BEACH, SITTING AT A LOOK-OUT POST. AT FIRST I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED BY THEIR BEHAVIOUR, BUT NOW I AM GETTING USED TO THE SITUATION AND GIVE MY FULL ATTENTION TO GUARDING THE SAFETY OF SWIMMERS, SHE ADDED.

+ AM SURE THAT AS MORE WOMEN JOIN THE PROFESSION, THE PUBLIC WILL GET MORE ACCUSTOMED TO THE SIGHT OF WOMEN LIFEGUARDS AND MIGHT GET TO LIKE US. +

HER

MISS CHOI IS GRATIFIED THAT WOMEN ARE PLAYING THE IR PART IN PROTECTING OUR BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS. REGULAR DUTIES INCLUDE MANNING THE OBSERVATION TOWER, KEEPING IN TOUCH BY WALKIE TALKIE WITH OTHER LIFEGUARDS, AND DOING PATROLS BY CATAMARAN.

HUNDREDS OF SWIMMERS WOULD HAVE FACED THE RISK OF DROWNING EVERY YEAR BUT FOR THE VIGILANCE OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S LIFEGUARDS.

LAST YEAR, THREE PERSONS WERE DROWNED BUT 595 OTHERS WERE RESCUED AT URBAN COUNCIL BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT UP TO 25 MILLION PEOPLE USE URBAN BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS EVERY YEAR, THE TOLL IS CONSIDERED TO BE VERY LOW BY ANY STANDARDS.

/+IN FACT,