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People planning to swim during the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow (May 31), are reminded to stick to the guidelines for keeping public swimming pools clean.
In support of the drive to keep swimming pools clean, more than 10,000 young swimmers have signed and pledged to uphold the Charter on Swimming Pool Cleanliness. More than 100 primary schools have shown their enthusiasm to participate in the scheme.
To promote preventive measures against stool or vomit in public swimming pools, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) launched the Charter on Swimming Pool Cleanliness this swimming season.
Several cases of stool or vomit in the 37 LCSD swimming pools are reported every month. Affected pools then have to be evacuated for cleaning and disinfection.
A spokesman for the LCSD said these closures could be avoided if swimmers strictly followed the keep clean guidelines.
"You should not swim if you feel unwell. You should not eat too much before swimming to reduce the likelihood of vomiting. People should use the toilet before swimming and if a swimmer feels the need to go to the toilet he should leave the pool for the toilet," the spokesman said.
The Charter on Swimming Pool Cleanliness, with the cartoon piglet McDull as the main character, is designed to be kept as a motto in the form of a bookmark.
The Charter carries six concise messages about keeping swimming pools clean and is available free at all LCSD swimming pools as well as the District Leisure Services Offices.
Children are encouraged to sign and pledge to uphold the Charter. By returning the Charter reply slip, they will have a chance to win a set of McDull keyholders which carry humorous keep clean messages.
For more information, please refer to the flyers or the LCSD District Leisure Services Offices.
The spokesman also reminded the public that the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow fell on the weekly cleaning day of the following swimming pools:
Kennedy Town Swimming Pool in Central and Western District
Island East Swimming Pool in Eastern District
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool in Kowloon City District
Kwun Tong Swimming Pool in Kwun Tong District
Yuen Long Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District
Sai Kung Swimming Pool in Sai Kung District
These pools will be closed from 10am until the end of the second opening session. They will be open from the third opening session. During the closure of these pools, people can also visit public swimming pools in the relevant districts or nearby districts.
For more information on the addresses, telephone numbers and opening hours of the swimming pools, please browse the LCSD website at: www.lcsd.gov.hk
Ends/Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:16
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