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
NNNN