Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ13: Lighting for swimming pools at night-time

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (October 9):

Question:

Regarding the stipulations on lighting for swimming pools at night-time, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) how the current stipulations on lighting at night-time in the licensing conditions for swimming pools compare with those in place before the commencement of the Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganization) Ordinance (Cap. 552);

(b) whether licensees of swimming pools were allowed a grace period for improving their lighting facilities to comply with the requirements upon the commencement of the above-mentioned legislation; if so, of the expiration date of the grace period, and the number of swimming pools not granted a licence for reason of non-compliance with the requirements upon the expiration of the grace period; and

(c) whether it will review the lighting requirements applicable respectively to "public swimming pools" which are managed by the authority, and to swimming pools which require licences, and of the differences between them?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Before the Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganization) Ordinance (Cap. 552) came into effect in January 2000, licensed swimming pools under the jurisdiction of the former Regional Council that operated after sunset were required to fulfill an average illumination requirement of not less than 200 lux (measured horizontally at pool water surface). There was no illumination requirement for licensed swimming pools under the jurisdiction of the former Urban Council. As a result of a review completed in January 2002, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) decided to align the illumination requirement at an average intensity of not less than 200 lux for all licensed swimming pools in Hong Kong.

(b) FEHD served a notice on licensees of all licensed swimming pools in the urban area in January 2002, requiring them to meet the new illumination requirement on or before May 1, 2002, if they are in operation after sunset. In view of the compliance difficulties expressed by some licensees, the Department has been considering relaxing the requirement, granting exemption or extending the grace period on individual merits. To date, no licensed swimming pool has been refused renewal of licence on grounds of failing to comply with the requirement.

(c) The current lighting requirement for swimming pools for recreational use were drawn up having regard to guidelines recommended by an international professional body, i.e., average illumination of not less than 200 lux measured horizontally at the pool water surface. Public swimming pools under the jurisdiction of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department were designed to meet this requirement. We are examining whether there is room for relaxing the requirement for licensed swimming pools under conditions which would not compromise public safety.

End/Wednesday, October 9, 2002
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