Tung Chung protesters demand public pool
About 60 Tung Chung residents and their children - some in swimsuits - held a demonstration yesterday to press the government to build a public swimming pool in the district.
The residents complained that the district did not have enough recreational facilities.
'Parents are very worried that some children might go to places which are not suitable for swimming, such as small streams or near a ferry pier,' Federation of Trade Unions' community worker Tang Ka-piu said. 'When the weather is very hot, some residents just jump into the water, regardless of safety.'
He said residents who wanted to take their children for a swim had to travel to Tsuen Wan or Tsing Yi, which was not convenient.
'They could also take their kids to swim at beaches in Mui Wo, but the bus fares are expensive,' Mr Tang said.
The demonstrators, who gathered outside the HSBC headquarters in Central, marched to the Central Government Offices where they submitted a petition containing 6,000 signatures demanding the government build a pool.
Meanwhile, the Observatory issued the very hot weather warning yesterday after temperatures rose above 33 degrees Celsius.
The Observatory said the heatwave would continue for a few days, with temperatures expected to drop to 27 degrees Celsius by mid-week.
The Senior Citizen Home Safety Association received about 460 requests for help from elderly by 4pm yesterday - about 10 to 20 per cent more than normal.
