XN000022-1988-02-11 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1988

HE NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY, AND ITS AFFILIATED LIFE SAVING ORGANISATIONS, HAD DONE A GREAT DRAL TO PROMOTE WATER SAFETY IN HONG KONG THROUGH THE ORGANISATION AND ACCREDITATION OF LIFE SAVING TRAINING PROGRAMMES.

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"IN 1986-87, NEARLY 7.000 PEOPLE BECAME QUALIFIED LIFE GUARDS, HE SAID.

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THIS SHOWS AN ADMIRABLE WILLINGNESS AMONG MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROVIDE A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

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MOREOVER, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO SAFETY IN WATER SPORTS.

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IN 1986-87, MORE THAN 38,000 PEOPLE WERE TAUGHT HOW ΤΟ SWIM THROUGH COURSES ORGANISED BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE RRCIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE EDUCATION ·DEPARTMENT,

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HE SAID.

"THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT REPEATEDLY REMINDS THE PUBLIC OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY THROUGH ITS WATER SPORTS SAFETY DAYS AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS."

PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS ALSO HAD REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT THE NEED FOR WATER SAFETY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY,

"ALL THESE EFFORTS HAVE AN EFFECT," SIR DAVID EMPHASISED.

"THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS THAT THE PUBLIC ARE BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR WATER SAFETY.'

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FOUR YEARS AGO, IN 1983-84, 13 PEOPLE DIED IN SWIMMING ACCIDENTS AT GAZETTED BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS IN HONG KONG. LAST YEAR THERE WAS ONLY ONE DEATH.

"THIS IS A REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT,'

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SIR DAVID SAID.

"WE MUST TRY TO ENSURE THAT THESE IMPROVED STANDARDS, AND THIS INCREASED AWARENESS, CONTINUB."

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