Swimming pool complexes under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will be open for public use from April 1, or upon completion of annual maintenance, for the new swimming season. The department calls on swimmers to keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic while swimming.

     All public swimming pools, except for Mui Wo Swimming Pool, will be open between April and October from 6.30am to 10pm for three sessions daily with two breaks. To tie in with the ferry schedule, the daily opening hours of Mui Wo Swimming Pool are from 8.30am to 10pm with two breaks.

     For the 14 pool complexes with both heated and non-heated swimming facilities, heated facilities will continue operation between April 1 and 15 while non-heated facilities will come into service from April 16.

     The 14 swimming pool complexes are:

Hong Kong Island:

District                        Swimming Pool Complex
Central and Western     Kennedy Town Swimming Pool

Kowloon:

District                        Swimming Pool Complex
Kowloon City               Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool
Kwun Tong                  Kwun Tong Swimming Pool
Sham Shui Po              Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool
Yau Tsim Mong            Kowloon Park Swimming Pool
 
New Territories:
 
District                        Swimming Pool Complex
Islands                        Tung Chung Swimming Pool
North                          Fanling Swimming Pool
Sai Kung                     Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool
Sha Tin                       Hin Tin Swimming Pool
                                  Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool
Tsuen Wan                  Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool
Tuen Mun                    Tuen Mun Swimming Pool
                                  Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool
Yuen Long                   Yuen Long Swimming Pool

     To maintain the hygiene of public swimming pools, each pool will be closed for thorough cleaning once a week, in addition to the routine cleaning work carried out daily. The cleaning operation will be conducted on a designated weekday (Monday to Friday) from 10am to the end of the second session. If the scheduled weekly cleaning day falls on a public holiday, cleaning will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week.

     Individual swimming pools will be temporarily closed during certain periods in 2017 for maintenance works. Details are set out in the Annex.

     To ensure a clean environment in public swimming pools, swimmers should maintain personal hygiene and observe the pool rules, including the following points:

(a) Swimmers should shower in the changing room before entering the pool deck;
(b) Swimmers should walk through the shower bath and footbath;
(c) Swimmers should not go swimming if they feel unwell and should seek medical consultation instead;
(d) Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and should never urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they have to vomit; and
(e) Parents should teach their children the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene.

     Holders of the public swimming pool monthly ticket are encouraged to apply for monthly ticket smart cards which are printed with the card holder's portrait and preloaded with information on the validity period. The smart cards will enable holders to enter the pools easily and conveniently without having to produce documentary proof of identity. Interested monthly ticket holders can apply for smart cards free of charge at 61 ticket outlets including all District Leisure Services Offices and the booking offices of designated sports centres and leisure venues.

     For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleaning operations of the public swimming pools, please visit the following websites: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swim-location-hk.html (swimming pools in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon); and www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swim-location-nt.html (swimming pools in the New Territories).

Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:30

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