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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Each year, the Department recruits a number of lifeguards both on contract and temporary terms to augment the life-saving services at the Council's swimming pools and gazetted bathing beaches. Recruitment notices are normally advertised in the press.
Regardless of their employment terms, both contract and temporary lifeguards have to meet the same set of recruitment qualifications and undergo the same selection procedures. The current minimum lifesaving qualification is the possession of a valid Bronze Medallion issued by the Royal Life Saving Society. Applicants should preferably be below 35, and have good physique and good vision.
Completed applications for employment as lifeguards will initially be vetted to check that applicants meet all the basic requirements. Qualified candidates will then be invited to attend a departmental skill test in one of the Council's swimming pools.
At the swimming pool, each candidate is required to satisfy all the following: (a) Produce the original together with a photocopy of his/her lifesaving certificate for scrutiny. The Department will retain the photocopy which will be sent to the Royal Life Saving Society for verification of validity and authenticity;
(b) Pass a basic physique test which includes taking of height and weight measurements to ensure that they are in the acceptable range of proportion;
(c) Pass an eye sight test to ensure the candidate has good unaided vision and no colour blindness;
(d) Pass an oral test to ensure that he/she is conversant with the basic life saving procedures;
(e) Pass a resuscitation test to ensure that he/she possesses the requisite resuscitation skills;
(f) Pass a swimming test to check his/her swimming speed;
(g) Pass a towing test to ensure that he/she possesses the requisite techniques; and
(h) Pass a diving test to assess his/her under-water search ability.
The tests will be conducted by a recruitment panel comprising departmental staff who have knowledge and experience in the operation of swimming pools/beach and life-saving skills.
Only those candidates who can satisfactorily demonstrate their abilities to the panel as the most suitable will be considered for appointment.
MISS ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask one follow-up question. Last year, there was an accident at a private swimming pool when a child was drowned and fake certificates were discovered. I would like to ask this question: Does the USD through various channels remind private swimming pool operators that there should be proper procedures to employ lifeguards?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, concerning these qualified lifeguards, generally speaking they are trained by the Royal Life Saving Society. They also sit for examinations organised by the Society and get the relevant qualifications. As to how to verify the certificates as authentic, I think private swimming pool operators or owners have the responsibility to verify the authenticity of these certificates. On the part of the Council, apart from inspecting the swimming pools to ensure that the water quality is up to standard, we may also remind them that in appointing lifeguards they should check the files with the Royal Life Saving Society to see whether the lifeguards they have employed are qualified ones.
MR. JUSTEIN WONG CHUN (in Cantonese):— In employing lifeguards, will USD carry out a test to see whether there are communicable diseases because there may be contacts between the lifeguards and those who are drowned?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—I think that is not included in our testing programme, Mr. Chairman.
## MOTIONS
(1) MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
**'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 3) Order 1994 be made under section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'**
He said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
**'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 3) Order 1994 be made under section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'**
The purpose is to amend the fourth schedule of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance Cap. 132 to include four new venues and delete one existing public pleasure ground.
Sir, I so move.
MR. YIM KWOK-on, Vice-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Each year, the Department recruits a number of lifeguards both on contract and temporary terms to augment the life-saving services at the Council's swimming pools and gazetted bathing beaches. Recruitment notices are normally advertised in the press.
Regardless of their employment terms, both contract and temporary lifeguards have to meet the same set of recruitment qualifications and undergo the same selection procedures. The current minimum lifesaving qualification is the possession of a valid Bronze Medallion issued by the Royal Life Saving Society. Applicants should preferably be below 35, and have good physique and good vision.
Completed applications for employment as lifeguards will initially be vetted to check that applicants meet all the basic requirements. Qualified candidates will then be invited to attend a departmental skill test in one of the Council's swimming pools.
At the swimming pool, each candidate is required to satisfy all the following: (a) Produce the original together with a photocopy of his/her lifesaving certificate for scrutiny. The Department will retain the photocopy which will be sent to the Royal Life Saving Society for verification of validity and authenticity;
(b) Pass a basic physique test which includes taking of height and weight measurements to ensure that they are in the acceptable range of proportion;
(c) Pass an eye sight test to ensure the candidate has good unaided vision
and no colour blindness;
(d) Pass an oral test to ensure that he/she is conversant with the basic life
saving procedures;
(e) Pass a resuscitation test to ensure that he/she possesses the requisite
resuscitation skills;
(Pass a swimming test to check his/her swimming speed;
(g) Pass a towing test to ensure that he/she possesses the requisite
techniques; and
(h) Pass a diving test to assess his/her under-water search ability.
The tests will be conducted by a recruitment panel comprising departmental staff who have knowledge and experience in the operation of swimming pools/beach and life-saving skills.
Only those candidates who can satisfactorily demonstrate their abilities to the panel as the most suitable will be considered for appointment.
MISS ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask one follow up question. Last year, there was an accident at a private swimming pool when a child was drowned and fake certificates were discovered. I would like to ask this question: Does the USD through various channels remind private swimming pool operators that there should be proper procedures to employ lifeguards?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, concerning these qualified lifeguards, generally speaking they are trained by the Royal Life Saving Society. They also sit for examinations organised by the Society and get the relevant qualifications. As to how to verify the certificates as authentic, I think private swimming pool operators or owners have the responsibility to verify the authenticity of these certificates. On the part of the Council, apart from inspecting the swimming pools to ensure that the water quality is up to standard, we may also remind them that in appointing lifeguards they should check the files with the Royal Life Saving Society to see whether the lifeguards they have employed are qualified ones.
MR. JUSTEIN WONG CHUN (in Cantonese):- In employing lifeguards, will USD carry out a test to see whether there are communicable diseases because there may be contacts between the liftguards and those who are drowned?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—I think that is not included in our testing programme, Mr. Chairman.
MOTIONS
(1) MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 3) Order 1994 be made under section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Municipal Services (Public Pleasure Grounds) (Amendment of Fourth Schedule) (No. 3) Order 1994 be made under section 106 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The purpose is to amend the fourth schedule of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance Cap. 132 to include four new venues and delete one existing public pleasure ground.
Sir, I so move.
MR. YIM KWOK-on, Vice-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
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