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Five pools and nine beaches closed, but civil service chief refuses to bend on pay and staffing

Lifeguards are threatening a third strike after the civil service chief yesterday categorically rejected the union's demands over pay and manpower cuts.

In the second strike in three weeks,  1,120 lifeguards stopped work yesterday  - about 200 more than on July 18.

The stoppage caused the closure of five public swimming pools and nine beaches. It also left some beaches with  fewer lifeguards than usual, and meant some pools had to close in 18 swimming venues that stayed open.

In his first public comment on the strike, Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping  said a pay adjustment was impossible, adding that  the lifeguards' wages were above  private-sector rates.

'The contracts for this year have been signed with  full agreement on both sides,' Mr Wong said. 'So, irrespective of what action some of the lifeguards would take to disrupt the services to the public, the government will absolutely not alter the terms of these contracts and adjust the salaries of lifeguards,' he said.

Mr Wong said the government would not take disciplinary action against the lifeguards but would consider docking their pay for their absence from work.

He said the strike lacked support from the  public.

Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards' Union vice-chairman Alex Kwok Siu-kit  said members  expected to have pay deducted, but stressed that they had a legal right to strike.

'We are not walking away from our jobs without proper reasons. We are here as members of a union on strike,' he said.

He said some media had distorted their actions and motives, and urged his colleagues to remain vigilant in their duties to avoid 'black-mouthing' by officials.

Addressing his colleagues in a four-hour sit-in protest outside the Leisure and Cultural Services Department headquarters in Sha Tin, Mr Kwok said: 'We are ready to start another match.'

His remark was met immediately with cheers from lifeguards  who  chanted slogans and circled the headquarters with their arms locked together.

The lifeguards also bowed in front of cameras to apologise for their strike, but called on the public to understand their concern over swimmers' safety in the long term.

Mr Kwok said he was still optimistic that there was room for further talks, but that the union would discuss further actions with its members.

Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Anissa Wong Sean-yee  repeated her appeal for lifeguards to stay on duty to avoid disruption of public services.

'They should not take moves to disrupt public services as a means to fight for their rights,' Ms Wong said.

The department yesterday mobilised 275 volunteers, including 90 qualified lifeguards, as temporary replacements for the 672 lifeguards who did not report for duty.

Ms Wong said the door to negotiations was still open, but  it would be difficult for the department to finalise an agreement  in three weeks as proposed by the union.

Two working groups are to be set up to discuss the  staffing issue and pay-adjustment mechanism for next year,  she said. But the union said it wanted a pay rise this year.

The union said the lifeguards on contracts  had had their monthly pay slashed from $11,150 to $8,300 last year. But wages for those  working at some remote beaches was increased to $10,000 this year, because of recruitment difficulties.

The number of lifeguards was cut by 400, to about 1,580,  as a result of job streamlining.



Lifeguards threaten third strike as union's demands are rejected