******************************************
Public swimming pools will reopen on April 1, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (March 25).
A spokesman for the department said all public swimming pools had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
"Water samples will be taken before the pools are opened each day and on an hourly basis during the opening period to ensure that the water quality complies with the standard recommended by the Department of Health," the spokesman said.
"As in previous years, the pools will continue to open in three sessions daily between 6.30am and 10pm with two breaks."
Details of the opening hours in the urban area are:
A. Swimming pools with opening hours from 6.30am to noon, 1pm to 5pm and 6pm to 10pm. (Breaks: noon to 1pm and 5pm to 6pm)
Central and Western District: Kennedy Town Swimming Pool
Wan Chai District: Morrison Hill Swimming Pool
Eastern District: Victoria Park Swimming Pool, Island East Swimming Pool and Chai Wan Swimming Pool
Kowloon City District: Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool, Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool and Tai Wan Shan Swimming Pool
Yau Tsim Mong District: Kowloon Park Swimming Pool
B. Swimming pools with opening hours from 6.30am to noon, 1pm to 5.30pm and 6.30pm to 10pm. (Breaks: from noon to 1pm and 5.30pm to 6.30pm)
Wong Tai Sin District: Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool and Morse Park Swimming Pool
C. Swimming pools with opening hours from 6.30am to noon, 1pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10pm. (Breaks: from noon to 1pm and 6pm to 7pm)
Southern District: Pao Yue Kong Swimming Pool
Kwun Tong District: Kwun Tong Swimming Pool and Jordan Valley Swimming Pool
D. Swimming pools with opening hours from 6.30am to noon, 1pm to 6.30pm and 7.30pm to 10pm. (Breaks: from noon to 1pm and 6.30pm to 7.30pm)
Sham Shui Po District: Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool, Lei Cheng Uk Swimming Pool and Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool.
In the New Territories, pools will open from 6.30am to 10 pm with breaks from noon to 1 pm and 6.30pm to 7.30pm. However, to tie in with the ferry schedule, the Mui Wo Swimming Pool on Lantau island will be open from 8.30am to 10pm.
"The breaks allow cleaning and disinfection work to be conducted twice a day to keep the water quality up to standard," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, some facilities at certain public swimming pools will be temporarily closed for annual maintenance.
The indoor pools at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, the main pool at Fanling Swimming Pool, and the main pool and diving pool at Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool will be closed from April 1 to May 31; the main pool of Yuen Long Swimming Pool will be closed from April 1 to May 9; the indoor pools at Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool will be closed from April 1 to May 15 and the main pool at Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool will be closed from April 1 to May 23.
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool and Morrison Hill Swimming Pool will be closed for annual maintenance from April 1 to May 31 and from May 1 to June 30 respectively.
The spokesman reminded the public that children under 12 years were not permitted to use public swimming pools unless accompanied by adults.
The spokesman appealed to those who suffered from infectious diseases such as acute conjunctivitis, acute gastroenteritis or respiratory tract infections to be considerate to other swimmers and refrain from entering public swimming pool areas.
"Anyone found in a pool area with symptoms of infectious diseases will be advised to leave and seek medical attention," he added.
Ends/Thursday, March 25, 2004
NNNN
