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Paggie Leung

Yesterday's closure of public swimming pools infuriated some patrons but many swimmers still went to closed beaches despite the rainstorms and lack of lifeguards.

About 150 people were affected when Fanling Swimming Pool was  closed  10 minutes after  opening yesterday morning, as there were not enough lifeguards.

Mr Poon,  a regular  swimmer at the Shamshuipo pool,  said the strike had caused  much  inconvenience and  that employment problems should be solved through discussion.

Another swimmer who did not know  Fanling Swimming Pool  was closed  said  the public should have been told about the closure earlier.

At Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool, Mrs Kwong blamed the government.  'We have never experienced having no lifeguards before,' she said.

'The lifeguards, of course, won't work for the government as  their pay was cut so much.'

About 10 swimmers  at Clear Water Bay Second Beach - which was closed -  said they  were not worried.

Chan Shui, who is in his 60s, said he would continue swimming regardless of whether there were  lifeguards.

'I don't think it's dangerous to swim [without lifeguards],' Mr Chan said. 'I go swimming every day, even  in winter when no lifeguard services are offered.'

Swimmer Lee Mok-cheung also said  he  was not worried  about the safety problem as he and his family  would stay near the shore. However, he said he would prefer the  lifeguards not to  strike.

'They need to [protect] the safety of the swimmers,' he said. 'If someone gets a cramp, no one can save that person  ... That's dangerous.'

The lifeguards who chose to work refused to comment on the strike, but one said he 'spiritually supported' the action.

Alan Luk Pak-lun, 22, a voluntary lifeguard who helped man the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool yesterday, also backed the fight for better pay.

'Cleaners get similar pay. Isn't being a lifeguard a profession? Why did I undergo the training? Pay should be on par with our skills, not our academic education,' he said.

Some swimmers at Kowloon Park complained about the closure of the outdoor pools.

Philip Tse, 47, said:  'People are always bumping into each other because the main pool is so crowded. It is dangerous.'

Public opinion on the strike seemed divided.

Susanna Lai,   a teacher who brought students to a swim class, said: 'I support the strike because I think they should have the right to protest, it is reasonable.'

But Tang Yuet-kuen, a mother,   said: 'The timing could have been better. They should have done this in colder weather or when school starts.'



Irritated swimmers fail to be deterred by one-day stoppage