XN000022-1993-06-11 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1993

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SURVEILLANCE ON WATERS STEPPED UP

THE GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED UP SURVEILLANCE OF WATERS OFF HONG KONG'S BEACHES IN VIEW OF THE SECOND SUSPECTED SHARK ATTACK CASE THIS MONTH WHICH HAPPENED IN SAI KUNG AREA THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.

IN ADDITION,

WARNING FLAGS HAVE BEEN HOISTED AT GAZETTED BEACHES TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE DANGERS OF ENTERING THE WATER.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS VERY CONCERNED ΤΟ DO

ALL IT COULD TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE WAKE OF THE TWO RECENT ATTACKS.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS WERE MEETING TO CONSIDER WHETHER ANY FURTHER MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK TO SWIMMERS AT PUBLIC BEACHES.

CONSIDERATION WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO BRINGING IN OVERSEAS

EXPERTS.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO ATTEMPT TO HUNT SHARK SINCE IT WAS A VERY RISKY BUSINESS.

MEANWHILE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD PUT IN PLACE A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO MONITOR THE BEACHES AND TO WARN SWIMMERS, INCLUDING AIR SURVEILLANCE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT FLYING SERVICE, INCREASED LIFEGUARD PATROLS, AND THE HOISTING OF SHARK WARNING FLAGS AT ALL OF ITS 30 BEACHES.

SWIMMERS URGED TO TAKE EXTRA CARE

IN VIEW OF A SECOND FATAL SHARK ATTACK AT A SAI KUNG BEACH THIS MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE, PUBLIC TO TAKE EXTRA CARE IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO GO FOR A SWIM.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EXTRA LIFEGUARDS HAVE BEEN PUT ON DUTY AT ALL URBAN COUNCIL GAZETTED BEACHES AND THAT LIFEGUARDS ON WATCH TOWERS ARE PROVIDED WITH BINOCULARS TO LOOK OUT FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS SIGHTINGS IN THE WATER.

WHEN NO

NOTICES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUT UP AT ALL BEACHES IN THE URBAN AREAS TO WARN SWIMMERS TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL ESPECIALLY LIFEGUARD SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, LIFEGUARD SERVICES ARE ONLY PROVIDED BEWTEEN 9 AM AND 6 PM DURING WEEKDAYS AND BETWEEN 8 AM TO 7 PM DURING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

IN THE COMING THREE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ΤΟ MAKE FULL USE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS.

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