Union says miscommunication delays reopening of pools
John Lee aims to clear obstacles to satisfy criteria for such a policy despite facing ‘lots of challenges’
Hong Kong’s latest round of social-distancing easing has got off to a rocky start as a lifeguard union claimed miscommunication between government departments delayed the reopening of dozens of public swimming pools, while many beaches were left short of rescuers.
Public beaches, swimming pools and water sports centres reopened to residents yesterday after previously being closed due to a surge in coronavirus cases during the fifth wave.
Other relaxed measures announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday included restaurants being allowed to seat eight diners per table and residents being permitted to take off their masks while exercising outdoors.
But several hours after Lam’s announcement, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said public swimming pools were not ready to welcome back swimmers. The department said 38 of the city’s 44 public swimming pools would only reopen on May 12 or May 16 as time was needed for cleaning, while the remainder were undergoing reconstruction or maintenance.
The department also warned residents not to swim at beaches without lifeguards, noting only 15 out of the 42 sites were currently staffed.
Nick Wu Kai-ming, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Kowloon Life Guards’ Union, blamed miscommunication between government departments for keeping some swimming pools closed.
Wu told a radio programme yesterday it would take time to fill pools and disinfect them, adding he did not expect the venues would be allowed to resume operations ahead of schedule.
“We, the frontline staff, thought the situation would improve after learning from our past experiences during the previous waves of Covid-19,” he said.
“We did not expect it to get worse this time. We only had two to three days to prepare.”
The union spokesman said lifeguard services could not be provided at some beaches, otherwise, premises would have to consider reopening with a shortage of staff.
Wu said the sector had faced a staffing crunch for years and the situation further deteriorated when employee exams were suspended during the pandemic, which prevented new recruits from joining. People could also be deterred from working in government lifeguard jobs as there were few opportunities for salary increases and no pathways to promotion, he said.
Wu also accused authorities of ignoring the manpower issues, despite the union having warned them about it six years ago.
One resident, a 33-year-old who did not want to give his full name, said he was dissatisfied with the arrangements for public pools as swimming was the only sport he could do due to medical reasons. He added that many beaches were too far away to be convenient for him.
“I was so happy in the beginning when the government announced the reopening of pools. I even got my swimming gear ready,” he said. “I want to ask what [the department] has been doing during the epidemic? Don’t they have to prepare for the reopening of pools?”
The department denied there had been any communication problems, adding it had informed the other bureaus it needed more time to prepare and could only reopen public pools on May 12.
“As the pandemic stabilised in late April, [the department] immediately started preparations for the pools,” its spokesman told the Post.
Yesterday, health officials confirmed 321 Covid-19 infections, including 17 imported cases, as well as five more deaths related to the virus. There were also 26 reports of positive self-tests from 24 students and two teachers.
The city’s coronavirus tally stood at 1,205,717, with 9,333 related fatalities.
In response to the latest round of relaxed curbs, about 100 people went to Repulse Bay Beach yesterday morning to soak up the sun or go for a swim.
The area was one of 15 public beaches with lifeguards on duty.
Emerging from the water was Wilson Tsang, 77. He said he used to go for a morning swim every day but stopped in January when the fifth wave broke out. “It is so comfortable to swim in the water. It was unbearable not being able to swim every day,” he said.
A 36-year-old man was playing in the sand with his three-year-old son. “It’s wonderful. It’s great,” said the father, who gave his name as Shane. “I definitely [prefer] public beaches … The lifeguards are always here watching just in case something happens.”
Restaurants were also packed as eateries were allowed to seat eight diners per table, up from the previous four.
At three traditional Chinese restaurants in Aberdeen at about 1.30pm, 10 to 20 per cent of the tables were filled with groups of more than four.
We did not expect it to get worse this time. We only had two to three days to prepare
NICK WU, LIFEGUARD UNION SPOKESMAN
Chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to make reopening Hong Kong’s borders with the mainland and the rest of the world a priority, as international business chambers warned travel curbs had undermined the city’s ompetitiveness.
The former chief secretary yesterday also said he would require his ministers to head overseas to attract foreign businesses and travellers to come to Hong Kong.
Lee, who is expected to win Sunday’s election as the sole candidate, said his goal was to “remove the obstacles” to reopening the city’s borders even though there would be “lots of challenges”.
“Border reopening is the first task on my mind. I know there will be lots of challenges,” he said.
“In Hong Kong, there are still hundreds of new coronavirus infections each day, while on the mainland, authorities are also trying to bring things under control.
“We need to do our job well … and my goal is to remove the obstacles to satisfy the requirements for reopening.”
Lee said he earlier held two virtual meetings with business groups, including international chambers, small and medium-sized enterprises, the textile and garment industry, and associations of Hong Kong people on the mainland.
“The chambers’ representatives say they are willing to work with senior officials and entrepreneurs in telling the Hong Kong story to the world,” Lee said.
“I also mentioned in my manifesto that when the timing is appropriate, and when the epidemic situation allows, our ministers will take the initiative in travelling abroad to promote Hong Kong’s strengths.”
Further easing of travel curbs was also a hot topic in the meetings, Lee added.
Hong Kong has been easing social-distancing rules this month as a fifth wave of infections stabilised. International travellers have been allowed to fly in and the threshold for suspending incoming flights found to be carrying infected passengers has also been relaxed.
But there were calls to allow home quarantine for returning Hong Kong residents or some arriving visitors. Some medical experts have also asked for the flight suspension arrangement to be abolished.
“[The attendees have] stressed that economic activities are crucial for Hong Kong to remain competitive, so we need to be proactive in keeping Hong Kong connected with the world and the mainland,” Lee said.
“They also hope cross-border travel between Hong Kong and the mainland can return to normal as soon as possible.”
Asked if he would further relax the quarantine rules for incoming travellers or consider scrapping the flight suspension mechanism, Lee would only say that the current administration had been trying to find a balance between business and public health concerns.
“I know the current measures are causing some inconvenience. The current government is taking action to balance the measures against the need for economic development,” he said.
“Hong Kong’s competitiveness hinges on Hong Kong remaining international and a very direct gateway to the mainland. So the position is very clear that I, if elected, would work towards that goal.”
Business representatives had also expressed hope during the meeting that the next administration would continue to support technological innovation and promote cross-border cooperation with authorities and tech firms in Shenzhen and other mainland cities, Lee said.
Meanwhile, Tam Yiu-chung, director of Lee’s campaign office, yesterday said Lee’s election rally today would be called “We and Us – A New Chapter Together”, and more than 1,000 people from various sectors would attend.
Asked if Lee had invited property tycoons to attend or if he was keeping a distance from them, Tam said: “We have invited all Election Committee members, advisers of the campaign office, members of its presidium, and district representatives. [The people] you mentioned should be included among the Election Committee members.”