Awards for Water Safety Campaign 2018 competitions presented (with photos)

     The winners of a Chinese slogan competition and a poster design competition for primary and secondary school students under the Water Safety Campaign 2018 received awards at a ceremony today (June 23). The competitions were organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Hong Kong Life Saving Society (HKLSS), which hold activities every year to enhance public awareness of water safety.
 
     More than 2 000 students participated in the two competitions. The entries were impressive and showed the students' creativity and artistic skills. The champion entries in the primary school sections of both competitions were chosen for this year's campaign poster.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Mrs Doris Fok, said swimming is one of the most popular leisure activities in Hong Kong. There were more than 27 million visits to the public beaches and swimming pools managed by the LCSD last year.
 
     Mrs Fok added that the department provides various swimming facilities suitable for people of all ages, no matter if they are non-skilled or strong swimmers. She reminded members of the public to pay attention to the water depth indicators placed at the poolside and to consider their swimming ability and body height before getting in the water.
 
     Noting that there have been reports of serious injury caused by reckless jumps into pools with shallow water and also reports of drowning caused by careless entry into deep water, Mrs Fok said the theme of the two competitions is to urge swimmers that they should be aware of the pool depth before swimming for safety's sake. In addition, the theme emphasises that incautious diving may cause accidents.
 
     Mrs Fok also appealed to beach-goers to only swim at beaches with lifeguard services and during the service hours. They should also stay out of the water when red flags are hoisted at beaches.
 
     Winning entries from the two competitions are now on display at Kowloon Park Arcade until 5pm on July 6. They can also be viewed on the LCSD webpages at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swimhandbook/poster/index.html (poster design competition) and www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swimhandbook/slogan/index.html (Chinese slogan competition).
 
     The Water Safety Campaign 2018 ceremony held at Kowloon Park Arcade was jointly organised by the LCSD and the HKLSS. Game stalls promoting water safety were set up at the entrance lobby of the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool spectator stand for public participation.