LCSD's heated swimming pools open in winter
*******************************************

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 29) that heated swimming facilities would be provided at 16 public swimming pools this winter.

     Twelve of the 16 pools will provide heated swimming facilities from November 1 (Monday). They are: Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, Island East Swimming Pool, Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool, Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool, Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool, Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool, Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool, Fanling Swimming Pool, Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool, Hin Tin Swimming Pool and Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool.

     The other four pools will be closed during certain periods in winter for annual maintenance. Their opening periods are as follows:   

     Swimming pools       Opening periods
     --------------       ---------------
     Wan Chai             November 1 to 28, 2010, and
     Swimming Pool        February 2, 2011 onwards
                                                            
     Tuen Mun             November 1, 2010, to
     Swimming Pool        January 16, 2011
                                          
     Yuen Long            November 26, 2010, onwards
     Swimming Pool      
    
     Lai Chi Kok Park     January 1 to March 31, 2011
     Swimming Pool

     The weekly cleansing operation at these 16 swimming pools will be held as usual, starting at 10am and finishing at around 5pm to 6pm.

     The schedule is as follows:

     Every Monday
     ------------
     Tai Kok Tsui Swimming Pool,
     Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool,
     Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool and
     Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool
     
     Every Tuesday
     -------------
     Kowloon Park Swimming Pool and
     Fanling Swimming Pool
     
     Every Wednesday
     ---------------
     Island East Swimming Pool,
     Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool,
     Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool and
     Yuen Long Swimming Pool
     
     Every Thursday
     --------------
     Morrison Hill Swimming Pool,
     Tuen Mun Swimming Pool and
     Hin Tin Swimming Pool
     
     Every Friday
     ------------
     Wan Chai Swimming Pool,
     Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool and
     Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool

     From November 1 to 30, three public swimming pools without heated swimming facilities, namely Victoria Park Swimming Pool, Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool, will open from 6.30am to noon daily.

     The LCSD urged swimmers to keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic. If swimmers feel unwell, they should not swim. They are advised to use the toilet before swimming and not urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they want to vomit. Before entering the pool deck, swimmers should shower in the changing room, and walk through the shower bath and footbath.

     Public swimming pools are for the enjoyment of the whole community and people should maintain both personal and environmental hygiene by observing the rules while using the pools.

Ends/Friday, October 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:22

NNNN