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Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN's question has reflected his concern for this issue. Of course, I am willing to go to the beaches or swimming pools for inspection. In fact, I am also a patron of the Urban Council swimming pools. I think the situation might not be that bad. They might only be some isolated cases. If something special happens and the Department receives complaints, the staff concerned should take appropriate action and strengthen supervision.
As to Mr. CHAN's comment that the remedial measures are not adequate, I think the Department should not give up its work in this respect because it has already done a lot. I wish to add that the Department should foster public awareness of water safety through multi-media publicity so as to draw the attention of both parents and students to water safety. Accordingly, I think the Department may consider stepping up its publicity at schools.
Mr. CHAN Choi-HI (in Cantonese):—I want to know whether there can be any specific measures, because the actual situation now is worrying. Does the Department have any guidelines for lifeguards working at the beaches and swimming pools run by the Council? Will the Department review the existing guidelines to find out whether they are appropriate and are not outdated?
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—I believe that this review is necessary and is practicable.
MR. TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):—Chairman, I have a question to ask Ms. AU. What are the reasons for the rising number of injury and drowning cases in the past 3 years and the considerable increase in terms of percentage? These are not directly explained in the reply document. Can this be elaborated or followed up?
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—I guess one of the main reasons for the rising figures is that as sharks appeared in the past couple of years, some swimmers would prefer the public swimming pools of the Council to beaches. This is one of the reasons. Furthermore, there has been improvement in the opening hours of the swimming pools, which have been extended and therefore members of the public prefer swimming pools. As to the specific reason, I think it should be on a case-by-case basis and it is quite difficult to generalize. I believe that our main concern, or the more important issue, is to step up publicity and education.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Would Mr. Wu Chi-wai raise Question 4 in his name?
(4) MR. WU CHI-WAI asked (in Cantonese):—'In recent years, I have received a number of complaints regarding water leakage in domestic premises. I understand that, after receiving such complaints, the Urban Services Department
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Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-Mr. CHAN's question has reflected his concern for this issue. Of course I am willing to go to the beaches or swimming pools for inspection. In fact I am also a patron of the Urban Council swimming pools. I think the situation might not be that worse. They might only be some isolated cases. If something special happens and the Department receives complaints, the staff concerned should take appropriate action and strengthen supervision.
As to Mr. CHAN's comment that the remedial measures are not adequate, I think the Department should not give up its work in this respect because it has already done a lot. I wish to add that the Department should foster public awareness of water safety through multi-media publicity so as to draw the attention of both parents and students to water safety. Accordingly, I think the Department may consider stepping up its publicity at schools.
Mr. Chan Choi-HI (in Cantonese):—I want to know whether there can be any specific measures, because the actual situation now is worrying. Does the Department have any guidelines for lifeguards working at the beaches and swimming pools run by the Council? Will the Department review the existing guidelines to find out whether they are appropriate and are not outdated?
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-I believe that this review is necessary and is practicable.
MR. TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):—Chairman. I have a question to ask Ms. AU. What are the reasons for the rising number of injury and drowning cases in the past 3 years and the considerable increase in terms of percentage? These are not directly explained in the reply document. Can this be elaborated or followed up?
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese); I guess one of the main reasons for the rising figures is that as sharks appeared in the past couple of years, some swimmers would prefer the public swimming pools of the Council to beaches. This is one of the reasons. Furthermore, there has been improvement in the opening hours of the swimming pools, which have been extended and therefore members of the public prefer swimming pools. As to the specific reason, I think it should be on the case basis and it is quite difficult to generalize. I believe that our main concern, or the more important issue, is to step up publicity and education.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Would Mr. Wu Chi-wai raise Question 4 in his name?
(4) MR. WU CHI-WAI asked (in Cantonese):-'In recent years, I have received a number of complaints regarding water leakage in domestic premises. I understand that, after receiving such complaints, the Urban Services Department
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