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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is committed to promoting activities on water sports safety and increasing public awareness to prevent accidents.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in Hong Kong. Last year, more than 19 million people visited the department's public swimming pools and bathing beaches.
With the ever-increasing number of swimmers, the department and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society organise various activities to promote water sports safety every year including a Poster Design Competition and a Slogan Competition for primary and secondary school students.
This year, 5612 students from 81 schools participated in the Slogan Competition, while the Poster Design Competition attracted 138 students from 23 schools.
The theme is to remind swimmers to take note of the sea conditions before setting out for any water sports activities. If they find the sea condition not suitable for water sports activities while engaging in such activities, they should stop and go ashore immediately to avoid danger.
The entries of this year's competitions are very impressive. The department has chosen a highly commended award entry of primary school section in the Slogan Competition, and the champion entry of secondary school section in the Poster Design Competition as this year's campaign poster.
The department also encourages people to enrol in swimming classes to improve their swimming skills and young people in particular to take life-saving classes.
The Water Sports Safety Campaign 2006, jointly organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society, was launched at the Kowloon Park Arcade today (June 17).
Winners of the two competitions received awards at the ceremony and there was also an exhibition of winning entries. A display on life-saving equipment and game stalls were set up at the foyer of Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
Officiating at the ceremony were the Department's Assistant Director (Leisure Services), Mr Paul Cheung; the Hong Kong Life Saving Society's President Mr Steve Lau, Vice-presidents Mr Wong Hok-yiu and Mr Wai Kam-chiu, the Society's Water Safety Council Chairman Mr Eric Cheung, Vice-chairman Dr Patrick Wong, the Society's Chairman Mr Anthony Chan; and the Director of Fire Services, Mr Kwok Jing-keung.
Winning entries of the two competitions will be on display at the Kowloon Park Arcade until June 25.
Ends/Saturday, June 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:15
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