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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has temporarily closed Stanley Main Beach following the discovery of a small shark carcass outside the shark prevention net today (July 11). The shark flag and red flag have been hoisted and swimmers are requested not to swim in that beach.
The department's contractor responsible for checking the shark prevention net found the dead shark entangled outside the shark prevention net during a routine inspection this morning. The shark prevention net is intact. Lifeguards immediately asked swimmers at the beach to leave the water.
The department has requested the Government Flying Service to conduct searches, and asked the Marine Police to pay particular attention to possible shark presence during vessel patrols. Sonar has been used to scan the swimming zone bounded by the shark prevention net to check if there are big fish within the swimming zone. The beach will be reopened after it is confirmed that no big fish is in the swimming zone bounded by the shark prevention net. Swimmers are yet reminded to swim inside the swimming zone when the beach is reopened.
Shark flags have also been hoisted at the other nine gazetted beaches managed by the department in the Southern District to warn swimmers, who are also reminded to swim within the swimming zone bounded by the shark prevention net. The nine beaches are Deep Water Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, South Bay Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, St.Stephen's Beach, Big Wave Bay Beach, Shek O Beach and Turtle Cove Beach. Staff of the beaches in the New Territories have also been reminded to stay alert.
The shark prevention nets have been effective since their installation at gazetted beaches. The department will post notices and continue to make regular broadcasts of water sports safety messages at gazetted beaches to remind swimmers to swim within the swimming zones bounded by the shark prevention nets.
Following the sighting of sharks in Sai Kung by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, water sports activities at the Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre, St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre, the Jockey Club Wong Shek Water Sports Centre and Tai Mei Tuk Water Sports Centre of the department have been suspended.
Ends/Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:40
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