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To further enhance public awareness of water safety, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society (HKLSS) organise various activities every year to promote water safety, including a Chinese slogan competition and a poster design competition for primary and secondary school students. Winners of the two competitions received awards at the ceremony of the Water Safety Campaign 2015 held today (July 11).
Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Miss Margrit Li, reminded people to observe water safety advice and to swim at beaches and swimming pools with lifeguards on duty.
She said there were cases of injury or drowning when people dug up clams or caught crabs by the seashore in Hong Kong. To avoid similar accidents, the LCSD has put up posters since last year to alert people to the potential risk of staying at mudflats or marshes.
She added that to tie in with the promotion, the theme of the slogan and poster design competitions this year was reminding people to keep away from mudflats and marshes and not to dig up clams or catch crabs by the seashore as high tides may cause danger.
More than 3 500 students participated in the two competitions. The entries were impressive, showing students' creativity and artistic skills. The LCSD has chosen the champion entry of the primary school section in the Chinese slogan competition, and that of the secondary school section in the poster design competition as this year's campaign poster. The department also shares water safety messages through other channels including a swimmers' handbook and television and radio announcements.
The ceremony of the Water Safety Campaign 2015, jointly organised by the LCSD and the HKLSS, was held at the Kowloon Park Arcade. An exhibition of the winning entries and game stalls promoting water safety were set up at the entrance lobby of the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool spectator stand.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony were the HKLSS' President, Mr Steve Lau; the HKLSS' Vice-president, Mr Wai Kam-chiu; the HKLSS' Water Safety Council Chairman, Mr Eric Cheung; the HKLSS' Water Safety Council Superintendent, Ms Jacqueline Ng; and the HKLSS' Vice-chairman, Dr Patrick Yeung.
Winning entries from the two competitions are on display at the Kowloon Park Arcade from today until 5pm on July 18. They are also available at the LCSD webpages www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swimhandbook/poster/index.html (poster design competition) and www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swimhandbook/slogan/index.html (Chinese slogan competition) for public viewing.
Swimming is one of the most popular summer pastimes in Hong Kong. Last year saw a record high of over 25 million visits to the public beaches and swimming pools managed by the LCSD. As at April 2015, there were a total of 41 gazetted public beaches and 43 public swimming pools under the management of the LCSD.
Ends/Saturday, July 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:04
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