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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is committed to promoting activities on water sports safety and increasing public awareness to prevent accidents.
Water sports is one of the most popular leisure activities in Hong Kong. Last year, more than 20.35 million people visited the department's public swimming pools and bathing beaches.
The department and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society organise various activities to promote water sports safety every year including a Poster Design Competition and a Slogan Competition for primary and secondary school students.
This year, 6,419 students from 64 schools participated in the Slogan Competition, while the Poster Design Competition attracted 192 students from 21 schools.
The theme of both competitions is to remind the elderly to pay attention to their health condition before engaging in aquatic activities. They should not swim if feeling unwell and never swim beyond one's ability.
The entries of this year's competitions are very impressive. The department has chosen the champion entry of primary school section in the Poster Design Competition, and the 2nd runner-up entry of secondary school section in the Slogan Competition as this year's campaign poster.
Winners of the two competitions received awards at the ceremony of the Water Sports Safety Campaign 2008, jointly organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society at the Kowloon Park Arcade today (June 21). An exhibition of winning entries was also held at the ceremony. A display of life-saving equipment and game stalls promoting water sports safety were set up at the entrance lobby of spectator stand of Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
Officiating at the ceremony were the Department's Assistant Director (Leisure Services), Mr Paul Cheung; the Hong Kong Life Saving Society's President, Mr Steve Lau; the Society's Water Safety Council Chairman, Mr Eric Cheung; the Society's Vice-presidents Mr Wong Hok-yiu and Mr Wai Kam-chiu, and the Society's Chairman Mr Anthony Chan.
Winning entries of the two competitions are now on display at the Kowloon Park Arcade until 6pm on June 28.
Ends/Saturday, June 21, 2008
Issued at HKT 13:02
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