Drastic drop in fatal marine accidents

The number of fatal marine accidents involving swimmers and boaters reduced significantly in 2007, said the Director of Marine Roger Tupper yesterday, pointing out the effectiveness of the Safety Afloat Campaign.

He revealed that the number of fatal cases in gazetted beaches with lifeguards on duty was reduced from five in 2006 to one in 2007. Fatal cases involving pleasure vessels, banana boats and jet-skis were reduced to zero in 2007, in spite of the growing enthusiasm for boating pursuits.

He promised to step up patrols and operations against illegal or reckless boating activities.

A series of educational seminars and publicity campaigns will be launched for the third year, he said.

Committee to coordinate reconstruction efforts

Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced yesterday the establishment of a steering committee to support the reconstruction of Sichuan province.

Chaired by Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) Henry Tang, the committee will oversee and co-ordinate Hong Kong's efforts in support of the quake-hit area's reconstruction and liaise with mainland authorities on the SAR's contribution to such work.

Members of the committee include the financial secretary and the relevant secretaries of bureaus as well as heads of departments.

The CS will go with the CE to Sichuan soon to discuss with provincial authorities the mechanism and arrangements for Hong Kong to participate in the reconstruction work.

Visitor arrivals in May rise 6.3 percent

Visitor arrivals in Hong Kong in May 2008 reached 2,342,146, 6.3 percent more than the same time last year, bringing cumulative arrivals for the first five months of 2008 to 12,037,578, 9.5 percent ahead of the same period last year, according to figures released by the Tourism Board yesterday.

Almost all long- and short-haul market regions recorded positive growth in May 2008.

The ratio of visitors coming from the mainland to those from other regions remained unchanged at

55:45.

In the meantime, among various source markets, South Korea achieved the highest growth rate at 32.6 percent.

Ocean Park in talks over replacement sturgeon

The Ocean Park is discussing with mainland authorities as to when a new Chinese sturgeon, meant to replace one that was killed recently by a barracuda, could come to Hong Kong, said the theme park's chairman Allan Zeman yesterday.

He said that the other four Chinese sturgeons are in good health. They have good appetite and are adapting to the new environment.

The park is examining the carcass of the dead sturgeon, hoping to gain a better understanding of the species.

The sturgeons were gifts from the Central Government, symbolizing the five Olympics rings.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/27/2008 page1)