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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 2016 held today (June 25).
Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Mrs Doris Fok, said swimming is one of the most popular summer pastimes in Hong Kong. Last year saw a record high of over 26 million visits to the public beaches and swimming pools managed by the LCSD.
Mrs Fok said there were reports of drowning in Hong Kong due to suspected heart attack or exhaustion. She reminded people to assess their physical fitness, health and swimming ability before they swim or engage in aquatic activities. People should stay out of the water if they feel unwell. Non-skilled swimmers should not attempt to swim in deep water or to a beach raft. They are advised to learn or improve their swimming skills with qualified instructors.
She also urged people not to dive or jump into swimming pools, especially leisure pools and training pools with shallow water, as doing so improperly may cause serious injuries to themselves or other swimmers.
To tie in with the promotion, the theme of the slogan and poster design competitions this year reminds swimmers to pay attention to their health before swimming and be honest about their swimming ability for safety's sake.
More than 2 500 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 for this year's campaign poster. The department also shares water safety messages through other channels including a swimmers' handbook and TV and radio announcements.
The ceremony of the Water Safety Campaign 2016, 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' representatives: the Vice-president, Mr Wai Kam-chiu; the Water Safety Council Chairman, Mr Eric Cheung; the Chairman, Mr Anthony Chan; the Vice-chairman, Dr Patrick Yeung; Honorary Advisor Mr Herbert Chan; Technical Advisors Mr Lam Kwok-wah and Mr Sam Hui; and the Director of Administration, Mr Stephen Ma.
Winning entries from the two competitions are on display at the Kowloon Park Arcade from today until 5pm on July 2. 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.
Ends/Saturday, June 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:06
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