XN000022-1986-09-12 — Page 14

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1986

13

47 HONOURED FOR SAVING LIVES

*****

FORTY-SEVEN GOVERNMENT LIFE GUARDS AND CIVIC-MINDED CITIZENS WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) PRAISED FOR THEIR BRAVERY IN SAVING LIFE AT SEA, AT SWIMMING POOLS AND AT PUBLIC BEACHES LAST YEAR.

THEIR

+TOGETHER, THEY SAVED THE LIVES OF 108 PEOPLE. SELF LESSNESS AND COURAGE IN RISKING THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR FELLOW MEN WILL SET AN EXAMPLE FOR US ALL,+ SAID THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE.

IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR DEEDS, DR LEE PRESENTED TO THEM THE RESCUE STAR, AN HONOUR AWARDED FOR RESCUING PEOPLE IN DISTRESS AT SEA OR AT PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS. THE CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB IN REPULSE BAY.

AMONG THE 47 RECIPIENTS WERE 25 LIFE GUARDS OF THE URBAN SERVICES AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, 10 FROM THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, SEVEN FISHERMEN AND FIVE OTHER PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS.

DR LEE SAID THE ANNUAL AWARD PRESENTATION WAS INITIATED IN 1962 JOINTLY BY THE CLUB AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, FISHERMEN IN PARTICULAR, TO PARTICIPATE IN SEA RESCUE AND LIFE SAVING ENDEAVOURS.

+SINCE THEN, A TOTAL OF 727 RESCUE STARS HAVE BEEN AWARDED BY THE CLUB, HE SAID.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, DR LEE SAID, THE CLUB CONTINUED ITS DEDICATION TO PROMOTING LIFE SAVING AT SEA AND AT SWIMMING POOLS BY MAKING VOLUNTEER LIFE GUARDS AVAILABLE.

THE CLUB HAD ALSO ACTIVELY PROMOTED SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO INCREASE AN AWARENESS OF SAFETY AT SEA. THESE PROGRAMMES, INVOLVING OVER 13 000 YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDED COURSES ON LIFE-SAVING AND FIRST-AID, AND WATER SPORTS COMPETITIONS.

+ALL THIS ADDS UP TO A VERY IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENT BY THE CLUB AND I FEEL THAT ITS MEMBERS' WHICH ARE ALL VOLUNTARY CERTAINLY DESERVE A VOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR THEIR VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO OUR COMMUNITY, DR LEE ADDED.

/14