THE Urban Council's swimming pools used to close at 10pm. However, from April 1, this closure time was amended to 9pm and this is really inconvenient for many swimmers. After a busy day doing tiring jobs, many people like to relax by going for an evening swim after they have had dinner. This is the only time that the pool is not crowded, so we can do lap swimming. I am puzzled by the council's decision, because now that summer is here, the number of swimmers has greatly increased. Now that the shorter opening hours have been reduced, swimming in the public pools is now impossible, because they are so overcrowded. Many former late evening swimmers now try to get some time just after they have finished work, but they find that they cannot do laps, as before, because the lanes are blocked off for school practice. Now, when you try to swim, you have to stop frequently, because there are so many people in the pool and you are constantly facing an obstruction. To relieve the crowding in pools and to give the people of Hong Kong with their busy daily schedules the opportunity to exercise, I urge the Urban Council to re-consider its decision and restore the 10pm closing time. W. S. H. PENG Wan Chai
