XN000022-1993-07-07 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1993

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MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT SHARK ATTACKS

SHARK BEACHES,

THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO LAY PREVENTION NETS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS AT SELECTED POPULAR THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY A NUMBER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, HE ADDED.

OF

IN

AN

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR SO SAID

SECRETARY FOR WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY A DEPUTY INTER-DEPARTMENTAL RECREATION AND CULTURE, MET ON JUNE 18 TO

VARIOUS

MEASURES.

THE GROUP

CO-ORDINATE

DEPARTMENT,

AND

THE

URBAN THE CITY

COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AGRICULTURE FISHERIES

THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

UNDERTAKEN BY THE WOULD DEPARTMENTS GOVERNMENT

IT HAS DECIDED THAT THE MEASURES CURRENTLY MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE VARIOUS CONTINUE.

THESE

INCLUDE

AND RED THROUGH

THE HOISTING OF SHARK WARNING SIGNALS FLAGS ON AFFECTED AND NEARBY BEACHES, GIVING VERBAL WARNINGS THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM EVERY 15 MINUTES TO WARN SWIMMERS AGAINST

WATERS ON NEARBY

AND ENTERING THE WATER, AND KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH

AREA IN THE VICINITY OF THE SWIMMING RESCUE CRAFT BY LIFEGUARDS.

CONSTANT

PATROL

IN MOTORISED

OTHER PRECAUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED INCLUDE:

*

THE

DEPLOY MORE LIFEGUARDS IN AFFECTED AREAS AND IN SOME OF MORE POPULAR BEACHES, AND STEP UP SURVEILLANCE BY THE USE OF ADDITIONAL MOTORISED BOATS;

AND

OPEN SOME PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS EARLIER TO CATER FOR MORNING SWIMMERS:

EARLY-

*

WIDELY DISTRIBUTE PAMPHLETS AND POSTERS ON MEASURES TO AVOID SHARK ATTACKS.

MR SO ALSO TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THREE CASES OF SUSPECTED SHARK ATTACKS OCCURRED IN HONG KONG WATERS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

IN THE FIRST

CASE, A 65-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SWIMMING ABOUT 500 METRES OFF SILVERSTRAND 6.35 AM ON JUNE 8, 1991.

KILLED WAS

SAI BEACH,

KUNG,

WHILE ABOUT

THE

CASE INVOLVED A 42-YEAR-OLD MAN SECOND WOUNDED WHILE SWIMMING ABOUT 150 METRES OFF SHEUNG SZ WAN, SAI ABOUT 8 AM ON JUNE 1 THIS YEAR.

WHO

WAS FATALLY KUNG,

IN THE THIRD CASE, A 61-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS FATALLY ATTACKED BY A

BEACH, SHARK WHILE SWIMMING ABOUT THREE METRES OFF SILVERSTRAND KUNG, ABOUT 7.30 AM ON JUNE 11 THIS YEAR,

SAI

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