Alerted by a cry for help and spotting an angler falling into the sea and on the verge of being drowned, a Leisure and Cultural Services Department lifeguard at a beach immediately drove a jet-ski to the scene but only found personal belongings without any trace of the victim. A Fire Services Department diver and the Marine Police evertually located the dying angler about 500 meters away from the site of the accident. The victim was later taken to hospital.....

 

All this was just the scenario of an exercise on a Joint Maritime Rescue Operation that would be required as more and more revellers flock to the beaches and sea. Therefore, in a bid to heighten public awareness of sea safety, Marine East Division (MEDIV) stages a Sea Safety Day at the onset of summer each year to conduct a joint rescue exercise with other government departments.

 

Officiating at this annual event in Sai Kung on April 25 before over 300 guests were Acting Marine Regional Commander Patrick Hodson, Marine Outer Waters District Commander Barry Smith, Chairman of the Sai Kung District Council, Dr Ng Sze-fuk, government department representatives and local community leaders.

On hand to support the event were three rental yacht associations, five private yacht clubs, recreational fishing rafts, a fishermen's association in Sai Kung, the University of Science and Technology, Outward Bound School, mentees of the Marine Police Mentorship Programme, and four uniform groups.

 

Besides the rescue exercise to remind the public to pay more attention to their own safety at sea, anti-drug activities at sea were also one of the MEDIV's operational priorities. Therefore, MEDIV continues to sign the "No Drugs at Sea Charter" with the relevant parties, receiving support from 240 pleasure crafts and 50 fishing rafts for creating a drug-free environment for sea revellers.