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15, and 25 rejected because of some reasons, and we said that we would reconsider it. Today, the answer is 5, and I think there is a mistake in the word 1980 because there are already 15 given in 1981. We will reconsider those which we have rejected and the figure on 14 April should be 15 and 5 this time, so the total number is 20 and the number under consideration is 25. But I agree that because of their urgent need, they should be quite worried since we have not licensed them. Some reasons are due to rejection by the Fire Services Department or the Building Ordinance Office, and we ourselves cannot decide on all the cases. As for some other cases, they have exceeded the 6 months deadline and we have considered whether they have complied with the conditions set out by other departments. So, I agree that the figure is very low but there are some factors that we cannot control.
MR. C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask, within the 156 applications which have exceeded the 6 months deadline, how many have been prosecuted.
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, on 14 April, we have written to the Urban Services Department but I cannot remember the figure of that date. But under the new ordinance starting from 1981, we are still considering how to deal with those which have exceeded the 6 months deadline. From what I know, over 2 have been prosecuted but we have received complaints from them, and under the circumstances we shall reconsider their cases, to see whether they have tried their best to comply with the conditions and we shall delay the decision whether we shall prosecute them. So I cannot give the exact figure now but the figure would be very low.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I have objected to this the other time, and I have also seen from the television, but from the figure, there were 229 applications and up till now only 15 have been licensed. In other words, there will be over 200 either doing their business illegally or closing down, so I can see that we have not given them any assistance but have only added difficulties to the trade. I wonder if the Food Hygiene Select Committee could reconsider, not just by issuing licences to canteens but also to give them a guideline on hygiene.
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Dr. HUANG. As for whether we can do this without this procedure, what I can say is that since we have already decided on, we should proceed with it. But as every one knows, when we license these canteens, we shall reduce the proportion between kitchens and workers' eating places. We would try our best to make it convenient for them. It will be difficult to do without this procedure but we will try our best to make it convenient for them.
4. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):-In view of the recent tragedy occurred in Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, (a) Will Council be informed the result after the investigation?
(b) What steps is Council taking to safeguard public safety in future?
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THE HONOURABLE F. K. HU, Vice-Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the swimming tragedy at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool on 14 July 1981 when an 8-year-old boy was found unconscious by the department's life guards in the main pool and subsequently died in hospital.
The first part of the question asks whether the Council will be informed of the result of the investigation.
It is not yet known whether the Coroner will order an inquest on this occasion. However, in view of the public interest in this case, even if there is no inquest the department will submit a report to the Council.
The second part of the question deals with the steps to be taken by the Council and to safeguard public safety in future.
In answer to this part of the question, I must first of all make the point that since it opened in 1974 a total of 3.3 million people, of whom more than two-thirds were children, have been admitted to the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool and up to 14 July 1981 no one had drowned there. Last year the life guards carried out 18 rescues at that pool.
However, no matter how observant and proficient our life guards are, there is always a possibility of people drowning without being noticed, particularly when swimming in crowded conditions, and I am afraid that it simply is not possible to guarantee the absolute safety of all swimmers. The life guard service currently provided is of a very high standard and Members may rest assured that this standard will be maintained in future.
The real answer to the safety problem rests with swimmers themselves and many difficult situations could be avoided if simple rules of safety, such as not entering deep water if you are not a good swimmer, are followed. With this in mind the department proposes to play over the public address systems a pre-recorded tape reminding those who are not good swimmers to keep to the shallow end of the pool or use other pools such as the training or teaching pools, or in the case of children, the children's pool. Guardians will be reminded to supervise their children.
It is also proposed that notices should be displayed at appropriate places reminding users of the need for caution and reminding adults who bring children to the pool that they must exercise proper supervision over them. The Council will also continue to support the water safety campaigns in the future as in the past.
MR. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, other than increasing our safety measures, can Mr. HU assure the Council that we will not decrease our support for this kind of activities.
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15, and 25 rejected because of some reasons, and we said that we would reconsider it. Today, the answer is 5, and I think there is a mistake in the word 1980 because there are already 15 given in 1981. We will reconsider those which we have rejected and the figure on 14 April should be 15 and 5 this time, so the total number is 20 and the number under consideration is 25. But I
agree that because of their urgent need, they should be quite worried since we have not licensed them. Some reasons are due to rejection by the Fire Services Department or the Building Ordinance Office, and we ourselves cannot decide on all the cases. As for some other cases, they have exceeded the 6 months deadline and we have considered whether they have complied with the conditions set out by other departments. So, I agree that the figure is very low but there are some factors that we cannot control.
MR. C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask, within the 156 applications which have exceeded the 6 months deadline, how many have been prosecuted.
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, on 14 April, we have written to the Urban Services Department but I cannot remember the figure of that date. But under the new ordinance starting from 1981, we are still considering how to deal with those which have exceeded the 6 months deadline. From what I know, over 2 have been prosecuted but we have received complaints from them, and under the circumstances we shall reconsider their cases, to see whether they have tried their best to comply with the conditions and we shall delay the decision whether we shall prosecute them. So I cannot give the exact figure now but the figure would be very low.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I have objected to this the other time, and I have also seen from the television, but from the figure, there were 229 applications and up till now only 15 have been licensed. In other words, there will be over 200 either doing their business illegally or closing down, so I can see that we have not given them any assistance but have only added difficulties to the trade. I wonder if the Food Hygiene Select Committee could reconsider, not just by issuing licences to canteens but also to give them a guideline on hygiene.
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Dr. HUANG. As for whether we can do this without this procedure, what I can say is that since we have already decided on, we should proceed with it. But as every one knows, when we license these canteens, we shall reduce the proportion between kitchens and workers' eating places. We would try our best to make it convenient for them. It will be difficult to do without this procedure but we will try our best to make it convenient for them.
4. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):-In view of the recent tragedy occurred in Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, (a) Will Council be informed the result after the investigation?
(b) What steps is Council taking to safeguard public safety in future?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 51 of 146
THE HONOURABle F. K. Hu, Vice-Chairman of the Recreation Select Com- MITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the swimming tragedy at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool on 14 July 1981 when an 8-year- old boy was found unconscious by the department's life guards in the main pool and subsequently died in hospital.
The first part of the question asks whether the Council will be informed of the result of the investigation.
It is not yet known whether the Coroner will order an inquest on this occasion. However, in view of the public interest in this case, even if there is no inquest the department will submit a report to the Council.
The second part of the question deals with the steps to be taken by the Council and to safeguard public safety in future.
In answer to this part of the question, I must first of all make the point that since it opened in 1974 a total of 3.3 million people, of whom more than two- thirds were children, have been admitted to the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool and up to 14 July 1981 no one had drowned there. Last year the life guards carried out 18 rescues at that pool.
However, no matter how observant and proficient our life guards are, there is always a possibility of people drowning without being noticed, particularly when swimming in crowded conditions, and I am afraid that it simply is not possible to guarantee the absolute safety of all swimmers. The life guard service currently provided is of a very high standard and Members may rest assured that this standard will be maintained in future.
The real answer to the safety problem rests with swimmers themselves and many difficult situations could be avoided if simple rules of safety, such as not entering deep water if you are not a good swimmer, are followed. With this in mind the department proposes to play over the public address systems a pre- recorded tape reminding those who are not good swimmers to keep to the shallow end of the pool or use other pools such as the training or teaching pools, or in the case of children, the children's pool. Guardians will be reminded to supervise their children.
It is also proposed that notices should be displayed at appropriate places reminding users of the need for caution and reminding adults who bring children to the pool that they must exercise proper supervision over them. The Council will also continue to support the water safety campaigns in the future as in the past.
MR. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, other than increasing our safety measures, can Mr. HU assure the Council that we will not decrease our support for this kind of activities.
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