LCQ13: Installation of drowning detection systems in swimming pools
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Question:
It has been reported that earlier on, two girls drowned in a swimming pool in a clubhouse of a private housing court, and the incident has aroused concern of the community about the inadequacy of drowning prevention measures for swimming pools. On the other hand, it is learnt that a few years ago, some local schools already installed in their swimming pools a drowning detection system (DDS) introduced from overseas. Besides, while the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) already commenced a study on the installation of DDS in public swimming pools in as early as 2018 and intended to conduct trials in early 2020, the trials were shelved due to the privacy issues of swimmers involved and the epidemic. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the reasons for LCSD not conducting trials on DDS in the past two years; whether it has plans to conduct the trials as soon as possible; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as it is learnt that the DDS currently installed in some of the schools has obtained the privacy certification recognised by the European Union, whether the Government will conduct trials on the relevant DDS, so as to allay public concern about their privacy; and
(3) given that most of the swimming pools in clubhouses of private housing courts are currently not equipped with DDS, whether the Government will provide incentives (e.g. providing subsidies) for encouraging clubhouses to install such system?
Reply:
President,
The reply to the questions raised by the Hon Michael Tien, in consultation with Environment and Ecology Bureau, is as follows:
(1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) manages 44 public swimming pools and provides sufficient lifesaving services at swimming pool facilities open for service to ensure swimmers' safety. The LCSD has been exploring the adoption of technology in strengthening lifesaving services at public swimming pools and making available the use of its swimming pools to facilitate the development of a drowning detection system (DDS) suitable for local use in the past few years. As the public swimming pools were closed intermittently in the past two years due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the trial in public swimming pool environment had been affected. Following the gradual opening of public swimming pools in mid-May, the LCSD immediately contacted the relevant research and development (R&D) team to resume the trial programme at public swimming pools. The first trial was already conducted in mid-June. Based on the data collected from the first trial, the R&D team has drawn up an implementation plan taking into account the high attendance at and complex utilisation of public swimming pools, and will install a system at a public swimming pool for further trial in due course.
(2) The LCSD has been exploring the adoption of artificial intelligence technology in assisting lifeguards in their work and strengthening lifesaving services at public swimming pools to ensure swimmers' safety. As the utilisation rate and number of users of public swimming pools are generally significantly higher than those of private and school swimming pools and users' swimming habits vary, it is inappropriate to make direct comparison between them. The LCSD had previously studied the DDS used in local private and school swimming pools in terms of their functions, environment/conditions suitable for their use, installation requirements, swimmers' privacy, detection rate and costs, etc, but considered them temporarily inappropriate for use in public swimming pools. As mentioned in paragraph (1) above, the LCSD will continue to develop DDS that are identified as suitable at public swimming pools for trial.
(3) In accordance with the Swimming Pools Regulation (Cap. 132CA), any swimming pool artificially constructed for swimming and to which the public have access or which is operated by any club, institution, association or other organisation has to obtain a swimming pool licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. The licensee shall comply with the Regulation and the licensing conditions, including arranging the number of qualified life saving attendants (LSAs) as specified in the licensing condition to be on duty at all times when the swimming pool is open, as well as installing an alarm bell system so that the LSA may sound a warning in a suitable place for calling for extra assistance. Those swimming pools are under private operation, on the premise that the Regulation and the licensing conditions have been complied with, the holder of the swimming pool licence may install relevant devices and facilities with a view to strengthening the protection of swimmers. The Government has no plan to provide a subsidy.
Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:45
Issued at HKT 16:45
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