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The number of fatal marine accidents involving swimmers and boaters reduced significantly in 2007 and this proves that the Safety Afloat Campaign has had the desired impact, said the Director of Marine, Mr Roger Tupper, today (June 26).
Speaking at the "Safety Afloat Educational Seminar", Mr Tupper revealed that the number of fatal cases in gazetted beaches with lifeguards on duty was reduced from five in 2006 to one in 2007. Fatal cases involving pleasure vessels, banana boats and jet-skis were reduced to zero in 2007, in spite of the growing enthusiasm for boating pursuits.
"The significant reduction of the number of fatalities is encouraging and proves that our campaign had the desired impact. However we should not be complacent and this year's campaign needs to be intensified to ensure that the message of safety first gets to the public loud and clear," he said.
On the frontline, the combined fleets of the Marine Police (Marpol) and Marine Department (MD) will continue to step up patrols in the vicinity of the speed restricted zones and the water areas surrounding popular gazetted beaches and water sport sites. A series of anti-speeding operations against illegal or reckless boating activities which may endanger other boaters in the vicinity and the safety of swimmers in designated swimming zones will also be launched.
In addition, a series of educational seminars and publicity campaigns will be launched for the third year. A TV/Radio API will also be broadcast during the whole summer season to disseminate marine safety messages to the public and to boating communities in particular.
"I am confident that with the above-mentioned measures, together with the full cooperation of boaters and support from the general public, we will be able to enhance water sports safety in this summer season and the years to come. Hong Kong will not only continue to be one of the busiest commercial ports in the world, but also a safe and exciting area for marine leisure activities," Mr Tupper said.
More than 150 people from the boating community and water sports associations participated in today's seminar, which is the third Water Sports Safety Educational Seminar jointly organised by the MD, Marpol and LCSD. These events provide a platform to promote safety awareness and a forum to canvass views from boating communities on how to do the right things better in a rapidly growing marine recreational environment.
Ends/Thursday, June 26, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:30
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