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been in correspondence with the Chairman of the Council. Indeed one Member raised a similar point at the last meeting of the Sub-Committee.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify, first of all, that I was asking whether there are appeals of every kind, compassionate or ordinary. Would the Chairman of this committee and the Appeals Sub-Committee admit that at present, as it stands today, there are 18 cases waiting to be heard?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Personally, I only know of 15 but perhaps some may have come in in the last 24 hours.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I find the answer very unsatisfactory because although Members may be busy with Council meetings and busy with their own business, we have to remember these people are also waiting even just to get a livelihood, so I would like to ask the Chairman of this committee if the matter can be placed before the July meeting of the Council to discuss two things. First of all, to set a time-limit on the hearing of appeals and applications and, secondly, to form a pool of Councillors so that the absence of one Councillor would not hinder the work because there would be substitutes from the pool.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-The committee is a sub-committee of the Hawkers Select Committee and I therefore think that your application is best brought up initially at the next meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee, and I shall be very pleased to bring it up.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, could I ask Mr. BERNACCHI what is meant by 3 major members?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—I did not say 3 major members, I am sorry.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): -I read from the Chinese script saying the 3 major members. Can I ask which 3 they are?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-The English text, and I regret the mistranslation “it is sometimes difficult to arrange a meeting because 3 of the members" and then I named them Mrs. ELLIOTT, Mr. Hu and myself.
CHAIRMAN (in English): -I think the matter has been clarified. Any other supplementary questions? If not, Question No. 5, please.
(5) THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):-
(a) Are all gazetted beaches manned by life-guards during week-days and are the better patronized beaches reinforced by an additional number of life-guards during holidays and week-ends?
(b) What further steps are being taken to reduce the number of swimming fatalities this year as compared to 1976 and to strengthen the safety campaign at beaches?
(c) Are there any female life-guards employed by the U.S.D. and if not why not?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
I will answer Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's questions in the sequence in which they are asked:
(a) Firstly, there are 12 gazetted beaches under the control of the Urban Council, all on Hong Kong Island. During the official swimming season, from 1st March to 30th November, the Urban Council provides life-guards daily at all these beaches. During the peak swimming period, i.e. from mid-June to the end of August, the three major beaches, namely, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O, are manned from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. whereas the smaller beaches at Middle Bay, South Bay, St. Stephen's, Stanley Main, etc. are manned up to 7:30 p.m. The three major beaches are serviced by a greater number of lifeguards than the other beaches, the up-to-date provisions for Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O being 27, 17 and 17 respectively, operating two shifts, whereas the average provision for the smaller beaches is 6, operating 1 shift plus overtime. The overall provision is augmented during the peak swimming season by part-time life-guards employed by the Council, and also voluntary lifeguards supplied by the Hong Kong Life Guard Club.
(b) So far this season, there have been 2 drownings (one at Repulse Bay and the other at Deep Water Bay) and none at Urban Council swimming pools. Last
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been in correspondence with the Chairman of the Council. Indeed one Member raised a similar point at the last meeting of the Sub-Committee.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify, first of all, that I was asking whether there are appeals of every kind, compassionate or ordinary. Would the Chairman of this committee and the Appeals Sub-Committee admit that at present, as it stands today, there are 18 cases waiting to be heard?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Personally, I only know of 15 but perhaps some may have come in in the last 24 hours.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I find the answer very unsatisfactory because although Members may be busy with Council meetings and busy with their own business, we have to remember these people are also waiting even just to get a livelihood, so I would like to ask the Chairman of this committee if the matter can be placed before the July meeting of the Council to discuss two things. First of all, to set a time-limit on the hearing of appeals and applications and, secondly, to form a pool of Councillors so that the absence of one Councillor would not hinder the work because there would be substitutes from the pool.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-The committee is a sub-committee of the Hawkers Select Committee and I therefore think that your application is best brought up initially at the next meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee, and I shall be very pleased to bring it up.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, could
I ask Mr. BERNACCHI what is meant by 3 major members?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—I did not say 3 major members, I am sorry.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): -I read from the Chinese script saying the 3 major members. Can I ask which 3 they are?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-The English text, and I regret the mistranslation “it is sometimes difficult to arrange a meeting because 3 of the members" and then I named them Mrs. ELLIOTT, Mr. Hu and myself.
CHAIRMAN (in English): -I think the matter has been clarified. Any other supplementary questions? If not, Question No. 5, please.
(5) THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in
English):-
(a) Are all gazetted beaches manned by life-guards during week-days and are the better patronized beaches rein- forced by an additional number of life-guards during holidays and week-ends?
(b) What further steps are being taken to reduce the number of swimming fatalities this year as compared to 1976 and to strengthen the safety campaign at beaches?
(c) Are there any female life-guards employed by the U.S.D.
and if not why not?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
I will answer Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's questions in the sequence in
which they are asked:
(a) Firstly, there are 12 gazetted beaches under the control of the Urban Council, all on Hong Kong Island. During the official swimming season, from 1st March to 30th November, the Urban Council provides life-guards daily at all these beaches. During the peak swimming period, i.e. from mid-June to the end of August, the three major beaches, namely, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O, are manned from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. whereas the smaller beaches at Middle Bay, South Bay, St. Stephen's, Stanley Main, etc. are manned up to 7:30 p.m. The three major beaches are serviced by a greater number of lifeguards than the other beaches, the up-to-date provisions for Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O being 27, 17 and 17 respec- tively, operating two shifts, whereas the average pro- vision for the smaller beaches is 6, operating 1 shift plus overtime. The overall provision is augmented during the peak swimming season by part-time life- guards employed by the Council, and also voluntary lifeguards supplied by the Hong Kong Life Guard Club.
(b) So far this season, there have been 2 drownings (one at Repulse Bay and the other at Deep Water Bay) and none at Urban Council swimming pools. Last
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