The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 29) that full lifeguard services will be provided at 38 gazetted beaches from April 1. Swimmers are urged to take heed of water safety while having fun.

     The 38 gazetted beaches are:

Hong Kong Island:

District          Gazetted Beach

Southern       Big Wave Bay Beach
                    Chung Hom Kok Beach
                    Deep Water Bay Beach
                    Middle Bay Beach
                    Repulse Bay Beach
                    Shek O Beach
                    South Bay Beach
                    St Stephen's Beach
                    Stanley Main Beach
                    Turtle Cove Beach

New Territories:

District          Gazetted Beach

Islands          Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach
                    Hung Shing Yeh Beach
                    Kwun Yam Beach
                    Lo So Shing Beach
                    Lower Cheung Sha Beach
                    Pui O Beach
                    Silver Mine Bay Beach
                    Tong Fuk Beach
                    Upper Cheung Sha Beach

Sai Kung       Clear Water Bay First Beach
                    Clear Water Bay Second Beach
                    Hap Mun Bay Beach
                    Kiu Tsui Beach
                    Silverstrand Beach
                    Trio Beach

Tsuen Wan    Anglers' Beach
                    Approach Beach
                    Casam Beach
                    Hoi Mei Wan Beach
                    Lido Beach
                    Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach
                    Ting Kau Beach

Tuen Mun      Butterfly Beach
                    Cafeteria New Beach
                    Cafeteria Old Beach
                    Castle Peak Beach
                    Golden Beach
                    Kadoorie Beach

     During the swimming season (from April to October), lifeguard services will be provided daily at these beaches from 9am to 6pm. The services will be extended from 8am to 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the peak period from June to August.

     The LCSD urges the public to observe water safety and swim at the beaches only when lifeguard services are available. Please stay out of the water when a red flag is hoisted.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 29) that swimming pool complexes 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 mind their safety and keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic while swimming.

     All public swimming pools, except 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. Morse Park Swimming Pool in Wong Tai Sin District has been temporarily closed for works on the provision of a heated pool. It is expected to be reopened in 2020.

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

     The 16 swimming pool complexes are:

Hong Kong Island:

District                            Swimming Pool Complex

Central and Western         Kennedy Town Swimming Pool
Wan Chai                         Morrison Hill Swimming Pool
 
Kowloon:
 
District                            Swimming Pool Complex

Kowloon City                    Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool (Note 1)
Wong Tai Sin                    Hammer Hill Road 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 Complex

Islands                            Tung Chung Swimming Pool
North                              Fanling 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 (Note 2)
                                      Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool
Yuen Long                       Yuen Long Swimming Pool
Sai Kung                         Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool
 
Note 1: Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool has been temporarily closed until further notice due to urgent maintenance works.
Note 2: Heated facilities of Tuen Mun Swimming Pool will be in operation between April 8 and 15 while non-heated facilities will come into service from April 16.
 
     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 2019 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 62 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).

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (March 29) reminded people paying respects to their ancestors at graveyards in the countryside during the Ching Ming Festival period to exercise caution and prevent hill fires.
 
     An AFCD spokesman said it is an offence under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96) to burn incense improperly or leave behind kindling in the countryside. Any person who contravenes the ordinance is liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and one year's imprisonment.
 
     "The AFCD will deploy staff and enforcement officers to patrol graveyards in the countryside during the Ching Ming Festival period. Those found breaching the law will be prosecuted. Three people were prosecuted by the AFCD for the illegal lighting of fires in different locations last year," the spokesman said.
 
     The majority of hill fires in the territory are caused by human negligence. Accidents can be prevented if grave sweepers observe some simple guidelines:
 
 * Remove weeds around the graves with tools and never burn weeds;
 * Burning should only be done inside a container or iron bucket;
 * Never leave burning incense unattended; and
 * Make sure all kindling is put out before leaving.
 
     The spokesman said that metal containers for burning offerings properly will be handed out to grave sweepers at suitable locations in the country parks during the Ching Ming Festival, adding that barbecues should only be carried out at designated sites in the country parks.
 
     The AFCD will deploy additional country park wardens to step up the fire prevention efforts. They will patrol hill fire black spots and distribute hill fire prevention leaflets together with the Fire Services Department, the Police and the Civil Aid Service. Volunteer teams from the Hong Kong Hiking Association, China, and the Scout Association of Hong Kong will visit grave sweeping areas and hiking trails to disseminate hill fire prevention messages to the public.
 
     Members of the public are reminded to keep the countryside clean. Before leaving, grave sweepers and barbecue site users should not leave behind their offerings or rubbish. The AFCD issued fixed penalty notices to 164 persons for littering in the country parks last year.

     The Chief Executive has re-appointed 14 serving members and appointed four new members to the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) from April 1 for two years, the Government announced today (March 29).

     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "We are grateful to the four new members for accepting the appointment and the existing members for agreeing to continue their service with the HA for another term."
 
     The re-appointed members are:
 
Mr Cheung Tat-tong
Dr Lo Wai-kwok
Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun
Mr Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan
Mr Kwok Wai-keung
Mr Dennis Kwok Wing-hang
Professor Joseph Lee Kok-long
Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing
Professor Chan Ka-lok
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Miss Vena Cheng Wei-yan
Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah
Mr Shiu Ka-fai
Mr Andrew Wan Siu-kin
 
     The new members are:
 
Mr Anthony Chiu Kwok-wai
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Mr Lau Chun-kong
Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan

     Two serving members will retire from the HA on April 1. "We wish to thank the retiring members for their remarkable contribution over the past years," the spokesman said.
 
     The retiring members are:
 
Ms Serena Lau Sze-wan
Mr Wan Man-yee
 
     The membership list of the HA for 2019/20 is below:
 
Chairman
————-
Secretary for Transport and Housing
 
Vice-chairman
——————-
Director of Housing

Non-official members (26)
—————————–
Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung
Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai
Mr Chua Hoi-wai
Ms So Ching
Mr Cheung Tat-tong
Dr Lo Wai-kwok
Mr Alan Lui Siu-lun
Mr Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan
Mr Kwok Wai-keung
Mr Dennis Kwok Wing-hang
Professor Joseph Lee Kok-long
Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing
Professor Chan Ka-lok
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Miss Vena Cheng Wei-yan
Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah
Mr Shiu Ka-fai
Mr Andrew Wan Siu-kin
Dr Johnnie Casire Chan Chi-kau
Mr Raymond Chan Yuk-ming
Ms Cleresa Wong Pie-yue
Ms Cissy Chan Ching-sze
Mr Anthony Chiu Kwok-wai
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Mr Lau Chun-kong
Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan

Official members
———————–
Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury)
Director of Lands

     The Government announced today (March 29) that the income and asset limits of the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme would be raised from April 1 (detailed at Annex), applicable to claim months from April 2019 to March 2020.
 
     Under the WFA Scheme, the claim period of an application covers the immediate past six calendar months before the submission of the application, and an eligible household has to submit an application for every claim period.
 
     A household meeting the requirements on working hours as well as the income and asset limits may apply for a Basic Allowance ($800 per month for full rate), Medium Allowance ($1,000 per month for full rate) or Higher Allowance ($1,200 per month for full rate). Each eligible child may also be granted a Child Allowance ($1,000 per child per month for full rate). Depending on the household income, the allowances may be granted at full rate, 3/4 rate or half rate. The working hour requirements for single parents are lower. Details are tabulated below:
 

Notes: All household members are allowed to aggregate their working hours for WFA applications. The WFA Scheme covers singleton households.
 
     There are 159 distribution outlets for application forms and related documents, including the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) and Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency, Job Centres and Industry-based Recruitment Centres of the Labour Department (LD), District Social Welfare Offices, Social Security Field Units and Integrated Family Service Centres of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), and the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department.
 
     Applications can be submitted by post to PO Box No. 62600 Kwun Tong Post Office (WFAO) or through the drop-in boxes at the WFAO and SFO, the LD's Job Centres and the SWD's District Social Welfare Offices.
 
     Applicants are welcome to call the 24-hour hotline (2558 3000) or visit the WFAO's enquiry counters at 9/F, 181 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, for enquiries. New applicants who have difficulty in completing the application forms can seek assistance from over 90 service units of non-governmental organisations providing form-filling service from April 9 to September 30. Information about the WFA Scheme and a list of these service units are available at the WFAO's website (www.wfa.gov.hk).
 
     Separately, WFAO will take up the processing of individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (I-WITS) Scheme applications from LD starting from April 1. LD has issued letters to current recipients of the I-WITS on the detailed arrangements. For details of I-WITS applications from April 1, please call the WFAO's 24-hour hotline above, approach the enquiry counters aforementioned, or browse the website of the I-WITS Scheme (www.iwits.gov.hk).