Some public pools and beaches temporarily closed today
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Dutiful lifeguards of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (August 6) joined hands with honorary lifeguards from the Hong Kong Life Saving Society and members of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to provide undisrupted services to swimmers of the LCSD aquatic facilities despite the industrial action taken by some lifeguards.

Today, there were 10 LCSD swimming pools fully opened and 21 partially opened. Five pools, namely Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool, Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool, Fanling Swimming Pool, Jockey Club Yan Oi Tong Swimming Pool and Kwai Shing Swimming Pool were closed for the whole day.

Lifeguard services were provided in 23 public beaches but red flags were hoisted at nine beaches where there were no lifeguards on duty. The affected beaches were Middle Bay Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach, Trio Beach, Kiu Tsui Beach, Hap Mun Bay Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach.

Details of lifeguards on duty are:

Swimming Pools:

Morning Session
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Number of lifeguards required: 428
Number of Honorary lifeguards and AMS members: 119
Shortfall of lifeguards: 246

Afternoon to Evening Session
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Number of lifeguards required: 445
Number of Honorary lifeguards and AMS members: 115
Shortfall of lifeguards: 273


Beaches:
Number of lifeguards required: 320
Number of Honorary lifeguards: 41
Shortfall of lifeguards: 153

The department recorded a total of 33 096 attendance at its swimming pools and estimated 7 486 at public beaches today. On a rainy weekday (August 21) last year, the attendance in swimming pools was 54 254 and 19 826 estimated at beaches.

No rescue cases were reported at the LCSD pools and beaches.

Ends/Friday, August 6, 2004
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