Bay watch

UNDER the heading ''Sickening'', your correspondent Oliver Strachan (South China Morning Post, March 23) related the circumstances concerning the discovery of a hypodermic needle at Big Wave Bay, Shek O. It is always this department's concern to keep the beaches clean and safe for the public's use. Every gazetted beach is raked and litter-picked manually at least twice a day.

Also, at large beaches, such operations are supplemented by the use of a beach cleaner at least three times a week. However, as the operation of this cleaner causes some inconvenience to sunbathers, it can be used only in hours when there are fewer peopleat the beach. The department will keep up its efforts to ensure the safety of beachgoers and the frequency of cleaning operations will be increased if there is a need.

T L LAM Regional Leisure Manager (Hong Kong West) for Director of Urban Services