**********************************************
This year's swimming season starts on April 1. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) calls on swimmers to keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic while enjoying the fun.
A spokesman for the LCSD said, "Our swimming pools are for the enjoyment of the public, so every user should observe the rules and maintain both personal and environmental hygiene.
"If swimmers feel unwell, they should not go in the water and should consult a doctor as soon as possible. They are advised to use the toilet before swimming and should never urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they feel the need to vomit. Parents should teach their children the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene."
Before entering the pool deck, swimmers should shower in the changing room, and walk through the shower bath and footbath. Swimmers who prefer to wear slippers on the pool deck areas should make sure their slippers are thoroughly cleansed. They should put their slippers on in a designated area of the changing room. Those who want to wear T-shirts while swimming should bring along clean white T-shirts and put them over their swimsuits in the changing room and then walk through the shower bath.
In the swimming season, all public swimming pools, except Mui Wo Swimming Pool, will open for three sessions daily, from 6.30am to 10pm, with two breaks. The daily opening hours of Mui Wo Swimming Pool are from 8.30am to 10pm with two breaks, to tie in with the ferry schedule. Details of the opening hours of the swimming pools can be viewed at the following website: (www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/swim-opening-hk-summer.php).
To maintain the hygiene of public swimming pools, each pool will be closed for thorough cleansing once a week, in addition to the routine cleansing work carried out daily. The cleansing operation will be conducted on a designated weekday (Monday to Friday) from 10am to the end of the second session.
In view of the keen demand for swimming pool facilities on public holidays, if the scheduled weekly cleansing day falls on a public holiday, cleansing will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week. For the schedule of the cleansing operation of public swimming pools, please refer to the following website: (www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/swim-clean.php).
The following public swimming pools will be temporarily closed during certain periods for annual maintenance.
Swimming Pool (Period of closure)
---------------------------------
Main pool of Yuen Long Swimming Pool
(February 16 to July 15)
Indoor pools of Kowloon Park Swimming Pool
(April 1 to May 31)
Main and diving pools of Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming
Pool
(April 1 to May 21)
Siu Sai Wan Swimming Pool
(April 16 to May 31)
Indoor pools of Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 15)
Main pool of Fanling Swimming Pool
(April 16 to May 31)
Morrison Hill Swimming Pool
(May 1 to June 30)
Indoor pool of Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool
(May 1 to June 30)
Indoor main pool of Tung Chung Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Indoor pools of Hin Tin Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool
(September 12 to October 31)
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool
(September 12 to October 31)
Island East Swimming Pool
(September 12 to December 31)
The Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool Complex is closed between February 1 and June 30 for conversion of the secondary pool into an indoor heated pool. During the closure, members of the public may use Lei Cheung Uk Swimming Pool or Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool in the same district.
The secondary pool of Kwai Shing Swimming Pool will be closed from April 1 to 20 for repair of water pipes. During the period, the public can still use the main pool, teaching pools, children's pool and diving pool at the pool complex.
For details of the opening arrangements and schedule of the weekly cleansing operation of the public swimming pools, please visit the following website: (www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/swim-location-hk.php).
Ends/Friday, March 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN
