1998 — Page 606

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

589

Information Services Department (ISD) of the Government in order to alleviate the worries of the public?

Secondly, we notice a current fanaticism amongst the public during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. As quoted from a report in yesterday's newspaper, 'typhoon signal was changed from number 8 to number 9 as 'Maggie' struck Hong Kong directly this morning. More than ten surfers were surfing against the waves in pursuit of excitement in the tempest but ended up in tragedy. A young man got badly hurt *'. From this real account and the reply just given, we find that staff of the Department would retreat after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Isn't that too bureaucratic? On the other hand, checking with the questions I raised, it seems that they, albeit well-meant, are being evaded in the reply. For the sake of public safety, how do we give guidance to the surfers and deal with the problem in an appropriate manner? So, as far as measures to ensure public safety are concerned, does the Department have clear guidelines? Simply, the management of our beaches would be held responsible should any accident happen therein.

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In response to Mr. To's first question, after the repair work of the shark prevention nets is complete, we will normally not inform members of the public through ISD but will only remove the notices posted on the beaches. But if Mr. To finds it necessary, our Committee could discuss the issue to see whether it is necessary to do so. Since this kind of repair work is frequent, I am concerned that publicizing these messages through ISD would increase the workload but would have little effectiveness.

Mr. To's second question is about how to prevent accidents from happening to the many surfers during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Mr. To raised a question, in which he pointed out that the lifeguards would retreat immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. This is not the case. It is not that offices for the lifeguards at beaches can all close immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. In fact, those on duty are still on duty. They still have many things to do. A certain number of staff have to stay at the beach. So, if a lifeguard finds someone taking the risk by going into the water, he will go out and advise them not to do so. However, the personal safety of the staff themselves has to be considered as well. These surfers would take the risk to get soaked in the water. However, we would not encourage our lifeguards to take the same risk by getting close to the water or going into the sea to take action. This is because though lifeguards have all received training in lifesaving, it is still somewhat dangerous to go into the sea in the strong wind when typhoon signal number 8, or just number 3, is hoisted. The only thing we can do is to advise them not to surf. Besides, there is no legislation at the moment that prohibits surfers from surfing during typhoons. The only thing that the Council can do is to advise them not to surf.

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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 589 Information Services Department (ISD) of the Government in order to alleviate the worries of the public? Secondly, we notice a current fanaticism amongst the public during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. As quoted from a report in yesterday's newspaper, 'typhoon signal was changed from number 8 to number 9 as 'Maggie' struck Hong Kong directly this morning. More than ten surfers were surfing against the waves in pursuit of excitement in the tempest but ended up in tragedy. A young man got badly hurt *'. From this real account and the reply just given, we find that staff of the Department would retreat after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Isn't that too bureaucratic? On the other hand, checking with the questions I raised, it seems that they, albeit well-meant, are being evaded in the reply. For the sake of public safety, how do we give guidance to the surfers and deal with the problem in an appropriate manner? So, as far as measures to ensure public safety are concerned, does the Department have clear guidelines? Simply, the management of our beaches would be held responsible should any accident happen therein. MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In response to Mr. To's first question, after the repair work of the shark prevention nets is complete, we will normally not inform members of the public through ISD but will only remove the notices posted on the beaches. But if Mr. To finds it necessary, our Committee could discuss the issue to see whether it is necessary to do so. Since this kind of repair work is frequent, I am concerned that publicizing these messages through ISD would increase the workload but would have little effectiveness. Mr. To's second question is about how to prevent accidents from happening to the many surfers during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Mr. To raised a question, in which he pointed out that the lifeguards would retreat immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. This is not the case. It is not that offices for the lifeguards at beaches can all close immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. In fact, those on duty are still on duty. They still have many things to do. A certain number of staff have to stay at the beach. So, if a lifeguard finds someone taking the risk by going into the water, he will go out and advise them not to do so. However, the personal safety of the staff themselves has to be considered as well. These surfers would take the risk to get soaked in the water. However, we would not encourage our lifeguards to take the same risk by getting close to the water or going into the sea to take action. This is because though lifeguards have all received training in lifesaving, it is still somewhat dangerous to go into the sea in the strong wind when typhoon signal number 8, or just number 3, is hoisted. The only thing we can do is to advise them not to surf. Besides, there is no legislation at the moment that prohibits surfers from surfing during typhoons. The only thing that the Council can do is to advise them not to surf. Page 606 Page 606 Page 606

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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 589 Information Services Department (ISD) of the Government in order to alleviate the worries of the public? Secondly, we notice a current fanaticism amongst the public during the hoisting off typhoon signal number 8. As quoted from a report in yesterday's newspaper, 't_yphoon signal was changed from number 8 to number 9 as 'Maggie' struck Hong Kong directly this morning. More than ten surfers were surfing against the waves in pursuit of excitement in the tempest but ended up in tragedy. A young man got badly hurt *'. From this real account and the reply just given, we find that staff of the Department would retreat after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Isn't that too bureaucratic? On the other hand, checking with the questions I raised, it seems that they, albeit well-meant, are being evaded in the reply. For the sake of public safety, how do we give guidance to the surfers and deal with the problem in an appropriate manner? So, as far as measures to ensure public safety are concerned, does the Department have clear guidelines? Simply, the management of our beaches would be held responsible should any accident Kappen therein. MMR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In response to Mr. To's first question, after the repair work of the shark prevention nets is complete, we will mnormally not inform members of the public through ISD but will only remove the notices posted on the beaches. But if Mr. To finds it necessary, our ¡Committee could discuss the issue to see whether it is necessary to do so. Since this kind of repair work is frequent, I am concerned that publicizing these messages through ISD would increase the workload but would have little effectiveness. Mr. To's second question is about how to prevent accidents from happening to the many surfers during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Mr. To raised a question, in which he pointed out that the lifeguards would retreat immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. This is not the case. It is not that offices for the lifeguards at beaches can all close immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. In fact, those on duty are still on duty. They still have many things to do. A certain number of staff have to stay at the beach. So, if a lifeguard finds someone taking the risk by going into the water, he will go out and advise them not to do so. However, the personal safety of the staff themselves has to be considered as well, These surfers would take the risk to get soaked in the water. However, we would not encourage our lifeguards to take the same risk by getting close to the water or going into the sea to take action. This is because though lifeguards have all received training in lifesaving, it is still somewhat dangerous to go into the sea in the strong wind when typhoon signal number 8, or just number 3, is hoisted. The only thing we can do is to advise them not to surf. Besides, there is no legislation at the moment that prohibits surfers from surfing during typhoons. The only thing that the Council can do is to advise them not to surf. Page 606 of 606 Page 606 of 606 Page 606 of 606

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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

589

Information Services Department (ISD) of the Government in order to alleviate the worries of the public?

Secondly, we notice a current fanaticism amongst the public during the hoisting off typhoon signal number 8. As quoted from a report in yesterday's newspaper, 't_yphoon signal was changed from number 8 to number 9 as 'Maggie' struck Hong Kong directly this morning. More than ten surfers were surfing against the waves in pursuit of excitement in the tempest but ended up in tragedy. A young man got badly hurt *'. From this real account and the reply just given, we find that staff of the Department would retreat after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Isn't that too bureaucratic? On the other hand, checking with the questions I raised, it seems that they, albeit well-meant, are being evaded in the reply. For the sake of public safety, how do we give guidance to the surfers and deal with the problem in an appropriate manner? So, as far as measures to ensure public safety are concerned, does the Department have clear guidelines? Simply, the management of our beaches would be held responsible should any accident Kappen therein.

MMR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In response to Mr. To's first question, after the repair work of the shark prevention nets is complete, we will mnormally not inform members of the public through ISD but will only remove the notices posted on the beaches. But if Mr. To finds it necessary, our ¡Committee could discuss the issue to see whether it is necessary to do so. Since this kind of repair work is frequent, I am concerned that publicizing these messages through ISD would increase the workload but would have little effectiveness.

Mr. To's second question is about how to prevent accidents from happening to the many surfers during the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. Mr. To raised a question, in which he pointed out that the lifeguards would retreat immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. This is not the case. It is not that offices for the lifeguards at beaches can all close immediately after the hoisting of typhoon signal number 8. In fact, those on duty are still on duty. They still have many things to do. A certain number of staff have to stay at the beach. So, if a lifeguard finds someone taking the risk by going into the water, he will go out and advise them not to do so. However, the personal safety of the staff themselves has to be considered as well, These surfers would take the risk to get soaked in the water. However, we would not encourage our lifeguards to take the same risk by getting close to the water or going into the sea to take action. This is because though lifeguards have all received training in lifesaving, it is still somewhat dangerous to go into the sea in the strong wind when typhoon signal number 8, or just number 3, is hoisted. The only thing we can do is to advise them not to surf. Besides, there is no legislation at the moment that prohibits surfers from surfing during typhoons. The only thing that the Council can do is to advise them not to surf.

1998 — Page 606

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