The annual event calls on the floating population that lives in and around the shelter not to pollute the harbour. The event is also an environmental protection exercise and lesson for young people.

The campaign was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on a barge berthed alongside the typhoon shelter. Officiating guests included Marine Regional Commander John Hui, District Commander (Western Waters) Gilbert Ng, and Acting Divisional Commander (Harbour) Kong Sai-cheong.

Addressing the volunteer cleaners and guests, Mr Hui said that even though harbour hygiene conditions had improved, the problem of floating refuse was still serious.

In the past nine months alone more than 150 tonnes of garbage were pulled out of the harbour waters, Mr Hui said, emphasising the need to step up efforts to have a cleaner harbour.

He pointed out that floating refuse in fact posed a threat to police launches and other vessels, and could damage hulls and propellers of harbour craft. Over 30 such incidents are reported each month.

Mr Hui appealed to the public not to litter the harbour and asked youngsters to set an example by taking the lead in keeping the waters clean.

After the ceremony, 32 JPC 'cleaners' divided themselves into eight teams and sailed off in sampans to start their clean-up operations.

A competition was held to encourage the teams to collect as much refuse as they could.

After a whole morning's hard work, the teams that hauled in the largest volume of garbage received commendation certificates, while the remaining JPCs each received a medal for their efforts.