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Swimmers are urged to keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic during the new swimming season which starts tomorrow (April 1).
A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said public swimming pools belong to the whole community and people should maintain both personal and environmental hygiene by observing the rules of using the pools.
He reminded swimmers not to go in the water if they felt unwell and they should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and not urinate or defecate in the pools. Swimmers should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they want to vomit. Parents should tell their children to maintain 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 cleaned and they should put them on in a designated area of the changing room. Those who want to wear T-shirts while swimming should bring along white T-shirts and put them over their swimsuits in the changing room and then walk through the shower bath.
In the new swimming season, public swimming pools will open in three sessions daily from 6.30am to 10pm with two breaks. To tie in with the ferry schedule, Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open from 8.30am to 10pm with two breaks. Details of the opening hours of the pools are at Annex 1.
To enhance 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. This arrangement has been in operation since July, 2007, and has been well received by the public. Schedule of the cleansing operation of the public swimming pools is at Annex 2.
The following public swimming pools will be temporarily closed for annual maintenance.
Swimming Pool Period of closure
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Indoor pools of Hammer April 1 to May 31
Hill Road Swimming Pool
Main pool of Yuen Long April 1 to May 14
Swimming Pool
Main pool of Fanling April 1 to May 26
Swimming Pool
Main and diving pools of April 1 to May 22
Sha Tin Jockey Club
Swimming Pool
Main pool of Tseung Kwan April 1 to May 27
O Swimming Pool
Morrison Hill Swimming May 1 to June 30
Pool
Indoor pool of Shing Mun May 1 to June 30
Valley Swimming Pool
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool September 1 to
October 31
Indoor pools of Hin Tin September 11 to
Swimming Pool October 31
Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool September 12 to
October 31
Island East Swimming Pool September 14 to
October 31
For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleansing operation of the public swimming pools, please visit the LCSD website http://www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:11
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