「喇叭仔」手記 – 水塘不是大眾泳池
炎炎夏日，遇上疫症爆發，郊外成了大眾呼吸新鮮空氣勝地，環境優美又樹蔭處處的水塘更是夏天的郊遊首選。一向以宣揚山野禮儀為己任的喇叭仔也是水塘的常客，最近留意到有些自私的山友竟在水塘嬉水！
根據《水務設施條例》，任何人進入水務設施或污染水源均屬違法。即使沒有法律限制，水塘亦屬政府設施，而非大眾的泳池，水塘的藏水更是香港的珍貴資源，大家應該好好珍惜而非為一己私慾、貪一時的涼快而污染和浪費了屬於所有香港人的食水；何況水塘是受家庭歡迎享天倫樂的好地方，試問小孩子看到有人在水塘游泳會為我們的下一代樹立了怎樣的榜樣？
山野無痕七大原則中的最後一項是「考量其他的使用者」，因此喇叭仔呼籲各位，為了我們的現在和將來，做個守法和負責任的山友，珍惜資源，一同守護香港郊野。
Note from Megaphone – Reservoirs are not Public Swimming Pools
Summer is here! Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, spending time in the countryside for some fresh air becomes a new trend, and reservoirs are one of the most popular choices for people to visit in Hong Kong. Recently, Megaphone found that some hikers enjoy their summer in the reservoir by treating it as their own swimming pool!
According to the Waterworks Ordinance, anyone who breaks into the waterworks or contaminates the water supply would be violating the law. Even if it is not illegal to do so, reservoirs are government facilities, not a public swimming pool. Water from reservoirs are our precious resources which should be treasured and shared with people in Hong Kong instead of being polluted because of one’s selfishness. In addition, reservoirs are always a popular family attraction. Imagine how we are influencing our next generation if the children see people swimming in the reservoir?
Megaphone urges hikers to follow the seventh principle of “Leave No Trace” – “Be Considerate of Other Visitors”. For our present and future generations, please be a law abiding citizen and responsible hiker. Treasure our resources, and together we protect our countryside.