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The swimming season of this year will start tomorrow (April 1). The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) calls on swimmers to keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic while enjoying the swimming fun.
"To ensure a clean environment in public swimming pools, swimmers should observe the pool rules and maintain personal hygiene," a spokesman for the department said.
"Swimmers should shower in the changing room and walk through the shower bath and footbath before entering the pool deck. Those who wish 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. Those who prefer to wear slippers on the pool deck areas should make sure their slippers are thoroughly cleaned and put them on in a designated area in the changing room," the spokesman added.
The spokesman reminded members of the public not to go swimming if they feel unwell and to seek medical consultation instead. Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and they should never urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they have to vomit. Also, parents should teach their children the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene.
Holders of valid public swimming pool monthly ticket smart cards can enjoy swimming services with ease and convenience by entering the pools using smart cards, which bear their portraits and are preloaded with information on the validity period, instead of producing documentary proof of identity. Valid monthly ticket holders can apply for the use of smart cards free of charge at 61 LCSD ticket outlets. For details, please visit the department's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk or call 2414 5555 for enquiries.
In the swimming season, all public swimming pools, except Mui Wo Swimming Pool, will be open for three sessions daily, from 6.30am to 10pm, with two breaks. To tie in with the ferry schedule, the daily opening hours of Mui Wo Swimming Pool are from 8.30am to 10pm with two breaks.
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. If the scheduled weekly cleansing day falls on a public holiday, cleansing will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week.
Moreover, the following public swimming pools will be temporarily closed during certain periods for annual maintenance:
Swimming pool (period of closure)
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Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Main pool and secondary pool of Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Diving pool of Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool
(April 1 to June 5)
Indoor pools of Kowloon Park Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Indoor pools of Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 15)
Lam Tin Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Main pool of Yuen Long Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Main pool of Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Diving pool of Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool
(April 1 to June 5)
Main pool of Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool
(April 16 to June 5)
Siu Sai Wan Swimming Pool
(May 2 to June 15)
Morrison Hill Swimming Pool
(May 11 to June 30)
Island East Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool
(September 12 to October 31)
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Indoor pools of Kwun Tong Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Main pool of Tung Chung Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Indoor pools of Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
Indoor pools of Hin Tin Swimming Pool
(September 11 to October 31)
The following public swimming pools will also be temporarily closed during certain periods for renovation works:
Swimming pool (period of closure)
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Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool
(December 1, 2013, to April 30, 2014)
Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool
(January 1 to May 31)
Secondary pool of Chai Wan Swimming Pool
(November 1, 2013, to April 30, 2014)
Main pool of Fanling Swimming Pool
(April 16 to November 14)
For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleansing operations of the public swimming pools, please visit the following website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/beach/en/swim-location-hk.php .
Ends/Monday, March 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:03
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