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Lifeguards strike as mainland wave hits Kenneth Lau Tuesday, August 05, 2014
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department yesterday called for cool heads in an attempt to solve the problem. Services at a further two beaches and four swimming pools may also be affected. They are Tuen Mun Cafeteria Old Beach and Golden Beach, Tsuen Wan Shing Mun Valley pool, Tai Po pool, Tuen Mun North West pool and Sham Shui Po Park pool. Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards Union vice president Alex Kwok Siu-kit said about 200 of its 800 members will stage a strike today and take part in a sit-in rally and protest at the Sha Tin headquarters of the department. Kwok said there has been a shortage of 200 seasonal lifeguards at the summer peak time since manpower was cut in 2004. He said swimming pools and beaches need about 800 lifeguards annually but only 600 are hired temporarily. There are 1,200 permanent lifeguards. The situation is even worse this year because of the rising number of mainland tourists going to beaches and pools. A staff member at the Kowloon Park pool said a one-day swimming tour from the mainland comprised 40 members. "Frontline lifeguards told me that mainland
There are no regulations governing nationality or identity in public swimming pools and beaches, a department spokesman said. "We will keep close contact with the union and listen to them. We also call on the lifeguards to be rational in solving the problem," he said. If there is staff shortage today in light of the protest, the department will have to call off-duty lifeguards back to work. |
August 05, 2014
Lifeguards strike as mainland wave hits
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