After the terrible drowning tragedy of a seven-year-old boy at the Leisure and Cultural Service Department's Chai Wan swimming pool last August, it is time that the changing-room policies which operate at public pools were altered.
Although it is reasonable to bar children over the age of eight from opposite-gender changing rooms, some provisions should be made for youngsters between the ages of eight and 12 who are swimming with an adult of the opposite sex.
It is not enough to exclude children below the age of 12 from pools unless they have adult supervision.
It is too easy for children to get changed quickly, enter the swimming-pool area and jump into deep water unaccompanied. There is also the danger of unsavoury characters preying upon young children who are changing alone.
Perhaps the Leisure and Cultural Services Department could consider setting up family changing rooms or having a supervised area where children of this 'in-between' age could change safely.
ELAINE HA