Cross-Harbour Infection Race

Environmental Protection officials are saying the Cross-Harbour Swimming Race, first staged in 1912, may be reinstated after being closed since 1978, because pollution levels in the eastern part of Victoria Harbour have fallen 90%.

They believe bacteria counts are approaching a level that might allow a "once-a-year swim without endangering people's health unduly." This was achieved by the completion of the first stage of an $8.2 billion project in which sewage from Kowloon and northeastern Hong Kong Island is diverted via underwater tunnels to Stonecutters Island for treatment. However, untreated sewage still affects other areas of the harbour.

In a word: yuck. They couldn't pay me enough to get into the harbour, or to swim in any waters around Hong Kong.

Short of a ferry sinking while I'm aboard, it ain't gonna happen.

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