Lifeguards to strike work on Sept 9
By Timothy Chui/chinadailyasia.com
Wednesday, September 3, 2014, 17:02

HONG KONG - More than a third of the city’s lifeguards will strike work the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday after talks with the government over manpower reached an impasse.

Vice-chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards' Union Alex Kwok said 700 lifeguards will not work next Tuesday, a public holiday, which is expected to see a larger number of swimmers than usual at beaches and public pools.

Instead, some members will participate in a protest swim in Victoria Harbour off Tsim Sha Tsui.

The planned action comes after more than 100 lifeguards did not show up for work in early August over manpower shortages and increased workloads brought on by an influx of tourists.

Kwok, said the number of lifeguards have dropped by nearly a third while the number of visitors swimming in the city has risen in recent years.

Unannounced "swimming tours" by some visitors from the Chinese mainland created headaches for lifeguards responsible for maintaining safety and order, while isolated incidents of public urination in and around pools continued to draw ire.

Low starting pay failed to attract new hires and average monthly full-time salaries hover at HK$15,000. Kwok said the union wants overall numbers increased by at least a fifth.