Contractors who check shark nets at public beaches in Hong Kong have been told here Thursday by the government to report unusual damage or entangled sharks immediately.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department issued the order after two shark carcasses were found trapped in a net at Shek O Beach on Aug. 31. The contractors notified the department of the finds in its regular report.

However, Chief Leisure Manager Richard Wong said the contractor has been ordered to report such things immediately from now on, admitting the notification mechanism has room for improvement.

Upon receiving the report an inspection was conducted at Shek O and other beaches to ensure all shark nets were sound. No other sharks have been found.

Wong said nets will be checked twice a week and repairs made if necessary. The contractor's maintenance work will be inspected.

There are 41 gazetted beaches managed by the department in Hong Kong, with 32 having shark nets, including 10 in Southern District, nine on outer islands, six in Tuen Mun, one in Tsuen Wan and six in Sai Kung.

Until this latest report of the black-finned shark, there had rarely reported sharks in the waters near beaches in Hong Kong during the past several years. But six cases of shark attack were reported from 1991 to 1995, causing six deaths of swimmers at the beach waters.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2006)